Consider only what is necessary to reach a valid conclusion.
Occam's Razor is a neat principle that drives my philosophy. All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be correct. Not always, but usually.
For instance - Alan Greenspan appeared on the Today show and proclaimed that the Iraq war was about oil. Gasp! How dare he? It's really about peace in the middle-east. Democracy. Ridding the area of weapons of mass destruction!
Nope... it's really about oil. It sounds cold and impersonal, but it's true. If there were no oil in the middle east, we'd have little interest in the area. That's fine... hey, at least we have a reason for spending 200 million dollars a day on the war.
But let's call it what it is. It was an impressive moment of clarity and Occam's Razor. It's about oil.
Of course, Greenspan had to come back the next day and change his story. He was apparently misunderstood. The war isn't about oil, it's about peace in the middle-east. Democracy. Yada yada. Sounds like he got a phone call. (PS - I'm all for replacing fossil fuels with renewable forms of energy, the sooner the better, then packing our bags and heading to the Baghdad airport)
You know, if we don't start admitting some things, we stand to lose everything. If we don't start being honest with ourselves, shunning political correctness, we'll lose the opportunity. It's time to have a dialogue and be reminded what mankind is really about, lest we lose the thread and this beautiful sweater becomes a pile of errant textile.
So what is the purpose of mankind? Bottom line, what is your body built for? Creating art? Entertaining each other? Dancing? Hunt/gathering?
As unseemly as it sounds, propagation is our primary function. It's really very simple - nature cares only that it continues. We make babies. We replace ourselves, hopefully in larger numbers and with better features. That is what nature insists upon. Everything we do, by her standards, should be toward the advancement of the species.
When a species begins to lose focus, to forget their function, they fail. It's happened to countless species over millenia. Humans may be on the verge of that, I think.
I forget where I saw a study recently, but it found that the most intelligent among us aren't having kids. Higher IQ people have decided, for whatever reason, they are not interested. (Until recently, I felt that way too) Meanwhile, more and more people are coming out of the closet.
These types of abnormal behavior can't bode well for the future of the species, can they?
It's strange how, out of political correctness, we bury the concept of "normal" and "abnormal." From nature's perspective, (and oh, can she be a bitch) anything that we do which doesn't contribute to, or worse, detracts from the propogation of the species, is destructive. Abnormal.
Don't get me wrong, I believe every human being has the same right to do and be what they wish. I detest haters. If more people are choosing not to have children, that's fine. If more are coming out of the closet, that's just great. I celebrate their new-found happiness!
But nature is simple. It's all about making it to tomorrow. If some of our smartest people are discovering they aren't interested in propogating, and we reach a tipping point where those who are interested can't produce enough quality offspring to replace themselves AND the others... it doesn't take a scientist to figure out we're on a risky path.
Russia had a country-wide day off recently. Instructions were to stay home with your significant other and make babies. Russia loses 700,000 people annually because they aren't replacing their population. Maybe they are worried about the trend, too.
Same thing in Japan. People are working too much, and having intercourse too little.
If the trends continue and smart and gay people stop having children - abnormalcy in nature will exist. The dominant species may become the marmosets.
Fear the marmosets, always. But at least they know when it's time to copulate.
*a prolific lack of sleep has precipitated this entire post. As I speak, I can barely type what I'm thinking. It's 5 am and I have to get back to bed.
5 comments:
That was so profound you've got me thinking about a new blog post idea. Glad to see you're still alive, BDD.
BTW, you should read a wonderful book called The Bell Curve. Great read and it relates to what you've written.
Are you smoking the crack or something?
"As unseemly as it sounds, propagation is our primary function. It's really very simple - nature cares only that it continues."
dang, i've been letting down Humanity. i feel so bad. i better start having sex soon. it's not just fun, it's an obligation.
i also agree with what you say about the smart people getting busy. southern cal is turning into mexico with all the illegals running around being better humanitarians than the phd holders.
Hi Dave,
I am new to your site and felt the need to comment on your propagation blog. I am a women in my mid-30's with a Bachelor's degree and no children. I knew when I was 12 that I did not want children and have stuck to that. I was married to a man nearly 20 years older than me because I could not find a man near my age that did not want children (that is obviously not the only reason I married him). The point I wanted to make is I believe that I have lots of reasons to exist and propagation is not one of them. I work for a Community college, and through that I indirectly help young people succeed. I give to charities. I will eventually have to care for my sick mother. I counsel friends. What is the purpose of the people on the planet that cannot have children? Ok, I am rambling. Good stuff on Greenspan though.
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