Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!emory!ducvax.auburn.edu!dr
From: dr@ducvax.auburn.edu
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Human Population Growth/Decline
Message-ID: <1991Apr9.094513.3914@ducvax.auburn.edu>
Date: 9 Apr 91 14:45:13 GMT
References: <1991Feb22.164032.16901@zoo.toronto.edu> <1991Mar13.091441.2840@desire.wright.edu> <7860@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> <21376@crg5.UUCP>
Lines: 41

A very long time ago (at the beginning of this thread),

In article <21376@crg5.UUCP>, szabo@crg5.UUCP (Nick Szabo) writes:

  [population model stuff deleted]

> 
> I haven't seen any evidence that humans have an innate desire to procreate
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> (as opposed to having sex and nurturing already existing offspring).  Again,
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> I am not questioning the "should" of off-planet expansion: I am quite in
> favor of it. I am questioning the assumption of its inevitability, when 
> evidence to date indicates that it cannot occur.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Nick Szabo			szabo@sequent.com
> "If you want oil, drill lots of wells" -- J. Paul Getty
> The above opinions are my own and not related to those of any
> organization I may be affiliated with.


What constitutes evidence?  The desire to have children, particularly one's
*own* children, is the most consistently occurring, most strongly stated goal 
of adults throughout society.  This desire is so pervasive, so inescapably 
self-evident that it is absolutely overwhelming.  Writers throughout the ages 
have addressed this desire; it is a reasonable inference that they felt it is 
the very core of the human experience.

Of course, one could argue that this is merely a personal impression, and
does not constitute evidence.  Still, this impression holds across social
and cultural classes, and this impression is held by almost everyone I've 
chanced to meet, talk to, overhear, read postings of, etc. etc.  Admittedly,
one can avoid this impression by being a rock guitarist, or by socializing
exclusively with college students during mating season :).

	D.R.
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David Roller       Bitnet = dr@auducvax    Internet = dr@ducvax.auburn.edu
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