I stumbled upon a blog post by Jessica Ruvinsky autism as the next step in evolution. First of all, I want to say that I can’t stand what I call neurelitism, that is, the view that autistics are somehow superior to neurotypicals. This view dismisses the fact that autistics actually do have serious problems. Some of these believe that autism is the next stage in evolution. Really, if any autistic believes that they personally are the next step in human evolution, maybe they should consider getting fifteen children to make sure their genes get passed on. After all, if you don’t have children, you play absolutely no part in evolution at all.
Ruvinsky correctly states that there is no reason why any individual autistic should be the next step in evolution. Evolution, after all, doesn’t play on individuals, but on species. Genetic mutations happen spontaneously, and get passed on through the generations if people get children. Therefore, if people with one particular genetic mutation, are more likely to reproduce than others, it is likely that this mutation will increase in the population.
It is, however, highly questionable that autism is increasing at all, and if it is, that this could be some kind of mass genetic mutation. It is far more likely that autism diagnoses are increasing as a result of more awareness, broadened criteria and more people with the autistic neurology getting stuck in a rapidly complicating society (in western cultures at least). If the autistic neurology is truly increasing, it is far more plausible that environmental factors are at fault than genetic factors. Autism is far too complex a genetic construct to be able to have evolved spontaneously within the last, say, two or three decades. It is possible that, as a population, we are slowly getting more “geek genes”, which may in an increasing number of cases (due to diagnostic factors) be referred to as Asperger’s Syndrome or autism. But it is pretty much impossible that the genetic make-up of autism truly involved out of the blue since the 1980s.
There is one more premise behind the next step in evolution theory: autistics have a reproductive advantage. I honestly don’t see any reason to believe this. Even people with mild forms of autism are statistically less likely than NTs to be in intimate relationships. I don’t know how they magically get all these children that will account for an evolutionary leap, somehow, in the course of many generations. Of course, it is possible that some genes that occur in autistics are reproductively advantageous – I don’t know which or why, but it is possible -, but I don’t see any reason why the complex genetic make-up of autism should be in any way advantageous in evolution. And even if it were, at some point, in so many centuries, that is not a reason to start calling autistics the next step in evolution now.
I think this whole autism is the next step in evolution thing is nonsense, just like the other theory that autistic people evolved from Neanderthals; both are nonsense.
It isn’t nonsense, it has some sense. Even if there is no way the autistic man can reproduce due to social anxiety, homo sapiens sapiens can still evolve into it, and reach that ‘dead end’
Although the dead end will not be reached if the majority of people are autistic, in which case there would be little social stigma (birds of a feather applies to aspies and autistics so well), and since it affects males more than females, then evolution would seem to follow that only open minded, nice, and caring females would be able to breed and pass down those qualities, while close minded and ‘other’ ones would slowly go away.
Those who devised the Neanderthal theory have even less a clue of science than those who say autism is the next step in human evolution. Humans (homo sapeiens) did not evolve from Neanderthal folk. I don’t even think they have the same evoluntionary ancestor, but I’m not sure about that.
It has been proven that Homo sapiens sapiens (humans) carry genes that Neanderthals carried….why? Because Homo sapiens that migrated from Africa to points North and West encoutered Neanderthals and the two species of Hominids bred.
Thanks for the info friend
Those that don’t know anything about the Neanderthal theory shouldn’t post ridiculous things about it. Of course, we didn’t evolve from Neanderthals. If we were, we would all be Neanderthals, and there would be no Aspie/NT folks, just some homogenous mass. The theory says there were INTERBREEDING, which is what explains ASCs.
Well, Rdos, your idea of interbreeds sounds interesting, but is incompatible with science. If organisms belonging to different specieis, can interbreed, these interbreeds will be infertile. An example of these are mules (donkey/horse interbreed). If organisms can breed, and their offspring can also breed, that means the ogranisms belong to the same species. So even if there at one point existed homo sapiens/neanderthal interbreeds, they would’ve disappeared when neanderthal disappeared, because surviving interbreeds would be infertile.
Well, evolution doesn’t work like a ladder , so the idea of “the next step in evolution” is a bit rubbish. However, I do think the idea of a broad autistic phenotype makes perfect sense and it seems that in recent news, that could be true.
Though, to be honest, I don’t know much about genetics nor that much about the recent research on autism’s genetic link.
Everyone believes that evolution is based strictly on sex. Propagation of the species may depend on the evolution of science and technology. Analytical thinking has its limits in a quantum world. The world of the future may be lead by visual thinkers.autism may be the first stuturing step in that direction. It may take hundreds of years to complete the change. It will take time for enough stable visual thinkers to evolve as teachers and progenatures.
In my opinion, I believe there may have been two different types of humans. One is considered homo sapiens and the other neanderthal as we all already know. I believe that both we’re similar but not quite the same. Breeding these two separate species would’ve created a totally different species. Although still homo sapien, it was a downgrade of what could have been before. Different dogs breed to create mutts, and even people of different races and countries mix to make a different looking person. Breeding still goes on. It’s only when interbreeding occurs when one is considered less than what they could be due to their lack in intelligence, or shorter lifespans. If we we’re truly descendant from purely neanderthals, after a while, we would’ve been worse off than they were. there must have been a different species such as homo sapiens who were smarter to have leveled out the neanderthal’s intelligence. All through history, like many other animals, homo sapiens have evolved to adjust to the environment around them, and will continue to do so to survive. They may even evolve enough to do things extra-ordinary such as spontaneous tissue regeneration, teleportation, and even levitation. Are these things really unimaginable? homo sapiens have excelled expectations time and time again before. Who says it wont continue? Man learned to fly after several hundred failed attempts throughout the world. Humans dream the impossible and turn it possible. They may evolve to do these extra ordinary things with out knowing really what’s happening by doing what they’re doing. This all may sound like super hero and comic-like, but so did the flying inventions. Humans heard stories all around the world similar to Daedalus and his wings that he made for both him and his son Icarus to escape prison. The wings were made from feathers and wax put together in a fashion similar to wings and flew out. People knew this to be a myth and nothing more but they still strived to turn fiction into fact; to fly among the birds and become free. Now humans are also developing lasers which one day will be scarily similar to basters in “Star Wars”. So does this mean we as humans may one day become something more than what we are today?
An interesting website http://www.solitaryforager.com might shed some light. The article here suggests that autism is a different, but equally valid step in human evolution – a mind state that gates social distracters out, so that the mind can be focused on nonsocial activities – like foraging.
geeks are running this place
You are incorrect on your hypothesis that all interbreeds can not reproduce, that is true for donkeys and horses who are to distant, but when two species are closely related on an evolutionary scale they can interbreed fertile offspring, which is why many evolutionary scientists believe modern man descended from the offspring between the Neanderthal and Cromagnan men.
Also, there is no “next step” in evolution, evolution is qualitative, not quantitative, and while Autistics may seem introverted, they are only doing so in response to the world around them acting like they are unusual; whenever I see a group of Autistic people together, they have NO problem talking to each other because they have a common ground and can tell, unlike those who reject them.
It is said that we are evolving quickly from beings whose awareness lies in the brain to beings whose main awareness will reside in the solar plexus or feeling center. Autistic individuals are born with the genetic mutation for this new awareness but with incomplete wiring. That’s what I have surmised anyway.
When their environment changes, organisms adapt. What could be a more dramatic change than for children to spend years looking at symbols on paper and translating them into thoughts and abstract concepts? Children have been subjected to intensive education for only a couple of centuries, and it is reasonable to think their natures are changing. New adaptation may sometimes be imperfect, tentative and incomplete. I’ve written a book about my autistic son and his non conformist relatives. It can be read at http;//30145.myauthorsite.com/
A Few Autistic Questions about Freud, Marx and Darwin
Berthajane Vandegrift.
I have aspergers and I have slept with 9 people since 15, I am now 18
I have many more lined up – If I didnt wear condoms Id have completly, dare I say it ‘Screwed’ your ..
..”but I don’t see any reason why the complex genetic make-up of autism should be in any way advantageous in evolution. And even if it were, at some point, in so many centuries”..
..Theory
Maybe evolution is quicker than you think sailor’
on that note im going to go and make some babies, just doing my little bit for the evolution of my species
Autism is a collection of personality traits which become conspicuous when they occur in retarded people. I have a retarded son who is autistic. I share many of his personality traits, and I don’t regret any of them. Man’s mental and emotional makeup is undergoing rapid evolution. How could they not? Our lifestyles have changed dramatically during the past few centuries. If autism is on the increase, could it be because we are becoming more independent, less conforming, less dependent upon intuitive abilities and tending more toward reason? If Man is evolving, shouldn’t we expect some of Nature’s innovations to be tentative and incomplete?
Berthajane Vandegrift
A Few Autistic Questions about Freud , Marx and Darwin
http:30145.myauthorsite.com/
Autism is probably an advantage, look at the intense world theory for example.