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Re:A Planet of Parasites and the Problem with God by hypertele-Xii on Sunday January 07, 2024 @03:24AM (#38899554)
It literally is though. Sexual selection, emphasis on selection, is conscious. You choose half the genes of your descendants. Unless there's only one mating option. You also choose where you hang, and what you eat, which drives adaptations to that environment.
Re:A Planet of Parasites and the Problem with God by jddj on Sunday January 07, 2024 @04:01AM (#38899704)
You might feel like you have conscious control over the process of acting on your preferences to select the candidate for the randomish splicing of the genes of your partner's parents and your own parents.

Did you choose your preferences, though?

Re:A Planet of Parasites and the Problem with God by hypertele-Xii on Sunday January 07, 2024 @07:01AM (#38900521)
Yes! I've consciously decided to learn to like many things in life that I used to hate, because they are good for me. I see no reason to assume animals aren't capable of the same. It just takes time.
Re:A Planet of Parasites and the Problem with God by secstate on Sunday January 07, 2024 @09:39AM (#38901550)
How does this pattern of thought not lead to eugenics?
Re:A Planet of Parasites and the Problem with God by hypertele-Xii on Monday January 08, 2024 @01:33AM (#38908902)
"A set of beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population"?

That just describes sexual selection in general. Of course you think with your big head when choosing a mate, not the small one that's easily fooled.

You make it sound like choosing good genes for your offspring is evil or something.