Humans stop evolving?

[Boerseun]

Nope. At best, what gives you the perception of "having a soul" is merely a specific pattern in the tangle of neurons filling your pip. A person brought up without the concept of a "soul", would not feel that he/she has one, nor would the existence thereof be perceptable in any scientific test. And not because of the absence of that particular ingrained pattern, but simply because, in short, it doesn't exist.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by learnin to learn

i understand. but could it still reside in the brain. i mean couldnt it just be part of some receptor that makes us think. I mean basically all it is is thinking what is right and what is wrong (unless you get religious and then it is something that is transformed into whatever they want you to think it is) I mean since all it really is is understanding what to do and what not to do then could it still be part of the brain?

It's only "part of the brain" in so far as that seems to be where our thoughts are, and the concept of a soul exists only in thought.

It's a bit like the concept of god. For many people it is very real, but it has no existence at any particlar place and time. It is just a thought, a human construct which fills some psychological need, but it doesn't have residence AFAIK in any sort of body region or organ. Sort of like unicorns. They are very real to several little girls, but there is no organ inside of little girls where the unicorns live (except, in thoughts and imagination).

Another way to look at it might be to compare it to love. For many people, this is VERY real, but it's not "located" anywhere per se (if you ignore for the moment oxytocin, seratonin, and dopamine).

[learnin to learn]

being one of religion I cannot completely agree with you, my friend, but I do understand what you are saying.

[Michaelangelica]

The study, published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and based on DNA samples from around the world, concludes that human evolution has accelerated in the last 40,000 years and particularly in the last 10,000. One reason is that population growth has increased the temporal rate of mutations and selections.
But in the case of humans, the authors note, "Rapid population growth has been coupled with vast changes in cultures and ecology … creating new opportunities for adaptation." Such "rapid cultural evolution" has "created vastly more opportunities for further genetic change, not fewer, as new avenues emerged for communication, social interactions, and creativity."

The evolution of evolution. - By William Saletan - Slate Magazine

[learnin to learn]

culture can lead to evolution?

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by learnin to learn

culture can lead to evolution?

Whatever, and I mean whatever, in the environment alters the chances of survival-and-reproduction, alters the direction of evolution. [Evolution is ALWAYS going on! The question is, "in what direction?"]

Culture changes--POW! Women decide that short men with thick necks are "sexy", thereby improving the chances that short thick-necked guys will reproduce and pass their genes on. Voila! Evolution now favors short thick-necked guys. Until the culture changes again, of course.

From my point of view, European culture favors intelligence and lean, exotic features. And so they seem to be getting more of that kind. In America, we tend to favor low IQs, blondes, and guys with thick necks, short tempers and big bibles. And so we seem to be getting more of that kind.

Culture can affect evolution. At least in the short term. But culture changes too fast to really produce any long term serious changes, IMHO.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by learnin to learn

culture can lead to evolution?

yes strange is it not.
You breed cows and then develop the enzyme necessary to drink their milk.
You grow grass seed and develop the ability to digest gluten.
Weird eh!

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

yes strange is it not.
You breed cows and then develop the enzyme necessary to drink their milk.
You grow grass seed and develop the ability to digest gluten.
Weird eh!

Whoa! Good call. I like that.

[somebody]

Originally Posted by Pyrotex

Culture changes--POW! Women decide that short men with thick necks are "sexy", thereby improving the chances that short thick-necked guys will reproduce and pass their genes on. Voila! Evolution now favors short thick-necked guys. Until the culture changes again, of course.

From my point of view, European culture favors intelligence and lean, exotic features. And so they seem to be getting more of that kind. In America, we tend to favor low IQs, blondes, and guys with thick necks, short tempers and big bibles. And so we seem to be getting more of that kind.

You are exactly right from women point of view in terms of selection but what about men? Can't we select? 500lb women think that "short thick-necked guy" is sexy does not mean that the short thick-necked guy will reproduce with her.

All i have to say is that we are complicated and to go even further, people in different cultures are even more complicated.

[Pyrotex]

Originally Posted by somebody

You are exactly right from women point of view in terms of selection but what about men? Can't we select? 500lb women think that "short thick-necked guy" is sexy does not mean that the short thick-necked guy will reproduce with her....

There are a few exceptional cases among men, I will concede. But speaking of American Culture, and the Typical American Dude...

...he is very much like a Tuna. The Atlantic Tuna will bite at an empty hook. No actual "bait" is required. Here, it is the Woman who makes the choices as to who, when and where (80% of the time). All the Man has to do is show up. If a woman is dangling a hook, he will snap at it.

Oddly enough, in the Animal Kingdom, sexual selection is almost always the prerogative of the Female. Interesting. Hmmm...