On 27 Jul 2004, at 12:07 am, Robert Seeberger wrote:
[Snip everything for the sake of a tangent]
The question going through my mind is : Are genetic imperatives rational?
Neither? Impulses or desires that derive from the physical nature of our bodies are just givens. We have a variety of different systems of varying evolutionary vintage from the most basic hunger/thirst/pain responses which go way back to social responses we have in common with other primates that are only a few millions of years old.
Since we have 'free will' how we decide to deal with these desires and impulses is where the rationality comes in.
I'm going to take it for granted that Erik is arguing from a moral/ethical point of view, and in that he is correct in describing Gary's scenario as irrational.
But from a genetic point of view I think the answers are very different. Once you have reproduced, a parents sole (in terms of genetics) purpose in life is to protect ones offspring. (And/or to produce more.)
Before birth control and pensions children were inevitable and looked after you in your old age. So there wasn't much conflict between reproduction and rational self interest.
Another point is that evolution is about results rather than means, so some people feel a strong desire to have children where others merely have a strong desire to have sex and when the children come along then strong child-caring feelings kick in.[1]
Effective contraception puts a spoke in the wheels of reproduction here. The former type of person will still have a family using contraception for better planning to meet their economic situation (and the fact that infant mortality is much lower with modern medicine), the latter type will have no children, or one or two depending on the balance of how they feel (since it's all a mixture). Even two children per couple is below the replacement rate for the population...
And of course there are cultural or learned factors too apart from genetic ones. Everyone has a mixture of genetically influenced appetites and desires that are modulated by cultural and social possibilities.
[1] And the man who impregnates a woman and shirks responsibility is another successful reproductive strategy. And around 10% of children are not fathered by the man who thinks he is the father and is taking the responsibility...
Rambling Maru -- William T Goodall Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web : http://www.wtgab.demon.co.uk Blog : http://radio.weblogs.com/0111221/
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