[extropy-chat] limits of computer feeling

[Keith Henson]

At 08:55 PM 3/19/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>At 12:11 PM 3/20/2007 +1100, Stathis wrote:
>
> >What would it mean to abrogate evolution? Arguably it has already
> >happened: we are more concerned with our happiness, which for
> >evolution is just a means to an end, rather than for example
> >maximising family size.
>
>*Not* "maximizing", unless you add situational provisos (we're K, not
>r). "Optimizing" might be better, but that's dangerously
>teleological. "Good-enough-izing" is what I'd call it.

In the EEA it was maximizing, but not family size, it is maximizing the 
number of surviving, reproducing children.  To that end hunter gatherer 
peoples practice infanticide when a just born younger sib would threaten 
the survival of an older but still nursing child.

See the Azar Gat paper.

I suspect that paper is too long for a lot of people on this list.  I could 
cut it up and paste in small sections if you want.

Keith