11 hours ago, npts2020 said:

would select the more social types since they ought to be the most likely to survive and propagate.

How? You've just spent three days denying the plausibility of a 'What if?' scenario that might accomplish this. (It was a just a thought experiment ffs 🙂)

On 10/30/2026 at 12:49 AM, sethoflagos said:

How? You've just spent three days denying the plausibility of a 'What if?' scenario that might accomplish this. (It was a just a thought experiment ffs 🙂)

It would be helpful if you quoted what I have denied the plausibility of. AFAICT the only assertion I have made is that the death of an individual reduces the gene pool, the rest is opinion based on what little I know about evolution and genetics. I didn't think the fact that evolution has shown cooperation has advanced humans in ways beyond other species, needed an explanation of how more cooperative individuals would be more likely to survive and propagate...

Seems like my example set off some unexpected alarm bells. I really wasn't trying to trick anyone here. Anyway, the moment has now passed.