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A bit of a weird question: Can modern medicine be a threat to humanity long-term by greatly reducing effects of natural selection? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 5 months ago by user224@lemmy.sdf.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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OK, I hope my question doesn't get misunderstood, I can see how that could happen.
Just a product of overthinking.

Idea is that we can live fairly easily even with some diseases/disorders which could be-life threatening. Many of these are hereditary.
Since modern medicine increases our survival capabilities, the "weaker" individuals can also survive and have offsprings that could potentially inherit these weaknesses, and as this continues it could perhaps leave nearly all people suffering from such conditions further into future.

Does that sound like a realistic scenario? (Assuming we don't destroy ourselves along with the environment first...)

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[-] DeanFogg@lemm.ee 4 points 5 months ago

Why do you think declining birthrates will cause collapse? If anything I'd think it would help. We got what 8 billion people? I think we'll be able to continue the species just fine with that. Though infinite growth for the shareholders may not work out

[-] rammer@sopuli.xyz -2 points 5 months ago

You fail to understand how deeply ingrained the need for infinite growth is coupled into our society. It's not that some shareholders will not get their profits. Institutional investors (sovereign wealth funds, retirement funds, etc.) will fail to provide services billions of people rely upon.

There won't be enough people keep the wheels of society turning. Some institutions will stop functioning. Healthcare, industry, law enforcement, etc. will all be under enormous pressure. People will lose faith in society's ability to provide basic necessities and this is when the collapse proper will begin.

Importing more people from third world countries will not save us in the long run. They will run out at some point. And they will bring some of their problems with them. Causing instability.

If we were to avoid it we would have to replace almost everything.

this post was submitted on 18 May 2024

154 points (86.7% liked)

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