Marc Perkel Rantz

Damn Mark you are brilliant. That is SO true.

Interesting observation, although believe it or not, the term "Extinctionist" has already been taken.

Extinctionism is essentially the belief that the extinction of mankind will solve all the earth's problems. Extinctionists are people who hold those beliefs. There's even an "Extinctionist Party".

http://www.living-foods.com/community/personal/Extinctionism.html

The only faith I have, is the faith in my fellow man.

I believe we can build ourselves a Utopia, if only we are able to manage all the evil intentions in this world.

Here's how it will happen:

http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0134.html?printable=1

Utopia is impossible. The world works with balances and equations. Everything has a balance. You cant have good without evil and vice versa. Yin and yang.

Yin and Yang?

Dude... have you read the article?

Utopia is possible.

actually its common sence that it isnt possible, comunisim was the closest thing to utopia so far, and you see how well that worked.

Extremely convincing argument.

Evil and Good aren't "balancing factors" represented by the Yin/Yang in Taoism.

Technically, "Evil" only exists when Yin and Yang are out of balance.

Evolution doesn't mean that lesser species evolve into better ones. Those organisms that have traits best suited for survivability in their environment are the ones who pass their genes onto the next generation. Any genetic mutations that provide additional benefits are also passed on.

Consider another sudden environmental change in the form of a mass extinction event, this time a nuclear one. Perhaps the roaches will become the dominant species. Clearly, they are not superior to humans but are better suited for survival in a radiated environment.

I agree with your assessment of the pathetic religious fundamentalists. Religion is no longer advantageous survival trait for humans. It's now become a serious liability.

Recently I recieved the most wonderful book as a gift. It's called 'Ishmael' .. and well, it deals with all this and more. I know I'm just some stranger off the net, but it's definitely worth a check out from the library .. a short book but it says so much about our society.

To continue on Simian CEO's first point:

Evolutionary pressure in modern society is now being curcumvented by modern medicine. Those of us who would have had difficulty procreating in the past due to allergies, organ defects, and other life-threatening genetic conditions are ever-so-slightly weakening the gene pool.

Eugenics, the oft maligned doctrine of selective human breeding may actually have a bit of an intellectual revival as the decades and centuries go by. Medicine does have it's long-term drawbacks.

This doesn't take into account the continuing evolution of pathogens either. Old-world style plagues are in our future. Perhaps we'll get off lightly and not lose huge proportions of regional populations or perhaps we won't.

Evolving doesn't always mean better. It can mean getting weaker. It can mean moving "sideways," so-to-speak. Or, it can genuinely mean getting better.

One of the operative phrases in any discussion of evolution is "random mutation."

Um...Mr. Perkel...I must disagree, we are not evolving at all, hello? Take a look at the man who is running our country! Take a look at the growing of violence, drugs, gangs, and all things that kill and destroy! I'm sorry people, but this is the sad reality, evolving humans and animals, not really! We are allready complex as we are, please do take biology courses if you must! There's a great line that goes this way: "Out of the 'heart' comes out, evil desires...and so forth"...Thanks, and great website, there are lots of things that I like here, if anyone is interested check this webpage: www.cuttingedge.org

Actually, the word Extinctionism or Extinctionist already exists. It is used to describe a group of scientists who believe that the end of humanity will be brought about by our eventual synthesis with advanced technology, and our biological bodies, being from that point on useless, will become obsolete. We will be "downloadable" minds on a great neural network. They also strongly believe that this will be for the betterment of mankind, allowing us to overcome our human vices limitations that are so closely intertwined with our physical bodies.

Crazy.