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Author Topic:   Homosexuality and Natural Selection.
Straggler
Member (Idle past 320 days)
Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


Message 217 of 243 (414810)
08-06-2007 2:04 PM
Reply to: Message 211 by anastasia
08-06-2007 12:24 PM


Re: Arguments from science, not emotion
Well, couldn't we ask why NS has not provided for a great sex drive in all humans?
The reason this is not so is because banging out as many offspring as possible is not necessarily the most advantageous way of passing on ones genes.
The human brain takes a long time to develop and relies on a great deal of parental resource and nurturing to reach full maturity.
As a species we have gone down the 'large investment in fewer offspring' route as opposed to the 'whack out as many sprogs as possible and let them fend for themselves and take their chances' approach.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 211 by anastasia, posted 08-06-2007 12:24 PM anastasia has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 220 by anastasia, posted 08-06-2007 2:23 PM Straggler has replied

  
Straggler
Member (Idle past 320 days)
Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


Message 222 of 243 (414822)
08-06-2007 2:53 PM
Reply to: Message 220 by anastasia
08-06-2007 2:23 PM


Re: Arguments from science, not emotion
I had to look up the meaning of fecundity.
I have therefore learnt a new word today.
I think it would be hard to argue that in a species like ours that relies on intelligence and learning, things that take time and nurturing to develop, fecundity would be more advantageous than the parental investment route.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 220 by anastasia, posted 08-06-2007 2:23 PM anastasia has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 224 by Wounded King, posted 08-06-2007 5:54 PM Straggler has replied

  
Straggler
Member (Idle past 320 days)
Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


Message 225 of 243 (414868)
08-06-2007 6:37 PM
Reply to: Message 224 by Wounded King
08-06-2007 5:54 PM


Re: Arguments from science, not emotion
Fair enough.
You sound like you know what you are talking about and I have no real reason to take issue with your argument which sounds reasonable enough.
So it would seem Ana had a valid point after all.
I was doing nothing more than applying what seemed like common sense to the situation.
As I am constantly telling people here at EvC, if nature worked by the principles of common sense alone we would barely need science at all anyway.
So I should listen to my own advice in future....
So where does the issue of fecundity lead us regards homosexuality and natural selection?
If what you say about fecundity is true what conclusions can we draw about the naturalness or otherwise of homosexuality?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 224 by Wounded King, posted 08-06-2007 5:54 PM Wounded King has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 229 by Wounded King, posted 08-06-2007 8:26 PM Straggler has not replied

  
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