Comments on: Human species ‘may split in two’ https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:18:10 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30416 DanS Sat, 12 Apr 2014 14:39:19 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30416 In the 10,000 year window indicated, I think we'll actually evolve away from "gadgetry" and settle on perfecting the basic tool, that being the human body. This perfection will be attained through the use of other gadgets, namely microbial nanites, which would cruise through the body along blood conduits, as well as wandering unheeded across physical barriers, searching for and ridding the body of unwanted, as well as unhealthy bits of matter, be they biotic or not. These nanites would be programmable to handle just about anything that should crop up, as well as altering the body's form for other jobs (suppose you need very long, very slim fingers to perform a particular task), other habitats (breathing sea water), as well as other delights (up to your own imagination). We have had gadgets since the pointed stick, but it will soon be time to move beyond this need. Maybe... In the 10,000 year window indicated, I think we’ll actually evolve away from “gadgetry” and settle on perfecting the basic tool, that being the human body. This perfection will be attained through the use of other gadgets, namely microbial nanites, which would cruise through the body along blood conduits, as well as wandering unheeded across physical barriers, searching for and ridding the body of unwanted, as well as unhealthy bits of matter, be they biotic or not. These nanites would be programmable to handle just about anything that should crop up, as well as altering the body’s form for other jobs (suppose you need very long, very slim fingers to perform a particular task), other habitats (breathing sea water), as well as other delights (up to your own imagination).

We have had gadgets since the pointed stick, but it will soon be time to move beyond this need.

Maybe…

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30409 bowser Sat, 12 Apr 2014 03:02:15 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30409 I think the difference is comparable to a novelist describing a miracle weapon and a physicist doing the same. The novelist could do a good job, and the physicist may have more credibility. I think the difference is comparable to a novelist describing a miracle weapon and a physicist doing the same. The novelist could do a good job, and the physicist may have more credibility.

]]> By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30390 DanS Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:33:03 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30390 H.G. did the dual-species bit for "The Time Machine." He dumbed it way down for the limited sci-fi audience. In his 2-volume "History of Man," he comes up with the possibilities for several sub-species, or none at all, depending upon the sociality of future generations. What he did predict was a strong possibility for a mingling of all races, and thus forming a primary race of beautifully tanned humans. It also appears that Oliver Curry may be a bit dim-witted. H.G. did the dual-species bit for “The Time Machine.” He dumbed it way down for the limited sci-fi audience.

In his 2-volume “History of Man,” he comes up with the possibilities for several sub-species, or none at all, depending upon the sociality of future generations. What he did predict was a strong possibility for a mingling of all races, and thus forming a primary race of beautifully tanned humans.

It also appears that Oliver Curry may be a bit dim-witted.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30386 ER Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:16:29 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30386 The upper class are indeed evolving. They are gradually changing from predator to parasite. The upper class are indeed evolving. They are gradually changing from predator to parasite.

]]> By: mcfly https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30385 mcfly Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:03:21 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30385 ...the only skills the upper class have to master are those related to exploiting the cleverness and energy of the lower class. The more things change... …the only skills the upper class have to master are those related to exploiting the cleverness and energy of the lower class. The more things change…

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/09/human-species-may-split-in-two/#comment-30381 ER Thu, 10 Apr 2014 03:09:12 +0000 http://www.habitablezone.com/?p=44347#comment-30381 <blockquote>Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with others, could be lost, along with emotions such as love, sympathy, trust and respect. People would become less able to care for others, or perform in teams. </blockquote> Is he predicting an increase in the number of conservatives? Seriously, his physical descriptions of the diverging subspecies seems to rely on some pretty obvious and even discredited stereotypes (tall and graceful, square-jawed, athletic, vs squat, short, brutish knuckle-draggers). His master race sounds like a bunch of olive-skinned Aryan faggots. No, I think this guy is thinking too much like an Englishman. I see it working out differently. The underclass will have to struggle to survive, they will take heavy casualties without the advantages of the well-to-do, but natural selection will reward the fittest. The cleverest and toughest, mentally and physically, will survive and pass on their genes to their offspring. The upper classes already live sheltered lives, and use extraordinary measures to restrict their reproduction so they can accumulate wealth and enjoy their leisure and privilege, and they will lavish all sort of benefits and protection on the young they do have so that natural selection will have very poor material to work with, and little opportunity to cull the herd. And of course, they will only marry into their own class. Look at the elites today, and compare them with the common folk. There is plenty of evidence that this is already starting to take place. Most of the leadership class in the US today originally came from solid, working class material (usually immigrant stock, the huddled masses of Southern and Eastern Europe). They were subsequently mongrelized, that is, they are genetically more diverse and therefore genetically superior. The white-bread-and-mayonnaise Yankee upper crust of the Gilded Age were already showing signs of inbreeding and decline in their heyday, not too many of that genotype remain today in positions of inherited power. As they say, "Class will out." 8)

Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with others, could be lost, along with emotions such as love, sympathy, trust and respect. People would become less able to care for others, or perform in teams.

Is he predicting an increase in the number of conservatives?

Seriously, his physical descriptions of the diverging subspecies seems to rely on some pretty obvious and even discredited stereotypes (tall and graceful, square-jawed, athletic, vs squat, short, brutish knuckle-draggers). His master race sounds like a bunch of olive-skinned Aryan faggots.

No, I think this guy is thinking too much like an Englishman. I see it working out differently.

The underclass will have to struggle to survive, they will take heavy casualties without the advantages of the well-to-do, but natural selection will reward the fittest. The cleverest and toughest, mentally and physically, will survive and pass on their genes to their offspring.

The upper classes already live sheltered lives, and use extraordinary measures to restrict their reproduction so they can accumulate wealth and enjoy their leisure and privilege, and they will lavish all sort of benefits and protection on the young they do have so that natural selection will have very poor material to work with, and little opportunity to cull the herd. And of course, they will only marry into their own class.

Look at the elites today, and compare them with the common folk. There is plenty of evidence that this is already starting to take place. Most of the leadership class in the US today originally came from solid, working class material (usually immigrant stock, the huddled masses of Southern and Eastern Europe). They were subsequently mongrelized, that is, they are genetically more diverse and therefore genetically superior.

The white-bread-and-mayonnaise Yankee upper crust of the Gilded Age were already showing signs of inbreeding and decline in their heyday, not too many of that genotype remain today in positions of inherited power.

As they say, “Class will out.” 8)

]]>