“Common sense” question for an evolutionist

[Crossboard]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

 

[sun rise]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

Human beings as we know the species today? Impossible. Human beings being mutated into bird like creatures through genetic engineering? Possible but unlikely given the size of the human brain.

The odds of this happening are so low that I would say "not worthy of any consideration" outside of fiction.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

We already have the capability to fly through tool usage.

Through natural mutations however? No, very unlikely if not outright impossible.

 

[Skwim]

"The heaviest bird ever capable of flight was Argentavis magnificens, the largest member of the now extinct family Teratornithidae, found in Miocene-aged fossil beds of Argentina, with a wingspan up to 5–6 m (16–20 ft), a length of up to 1.26 m (4.1 ft), a height on the ground of up to 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 ft) and a body weight of at least 71 kg (157 lb)"
Source: Wikipedia​

If you can imagine a 157 pound human with a wing span of 16-20 feet perhaps you have your flying human.

.

 

[columbus]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

Of course, today it's impossible. But, how long ago was the device you posted this with impossible? I grew up in a world without pocket calculators, much less iPhones.

CRISPR is just one dizzyingly new form of genetic engineering.
What Is CRISPR?
Add some of the other advances, such as nanotech, and I would not bet against much of anything.
Tom

 

[columbus]

If you can imagine a 157 pound human with a wing span of 16-20 feet perhaps you have your flying human.

Then again, maybe Intelligent Design might do better than undirected evolution.

Finally, ID might become a real thing!
Tom

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Then again, maybe Intelligent Design might do better than undirected evolution.

Finally, ID might become a real thing!
Tom

We usually just call that eugenics. :x

 

[HonestJoe]

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

It's not impossible but it seems unlikely. It would take some massive physiological changes to the human body to make independent flight viable, our weight being the main issue already mentioned. There's also no evolutionary pressure to push out development in that direction.

 

[shunyadragon]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

Evolution does follow with common sense.

It is possible that very small primate relatives could possibly evolve flight the same way flying squirrels and bats evolved from small mammals. Humans are too far along the evolutionary tree to evolve flight, because primarily our bone structure and size, but of course, we evolved intelligence and therefore we can fly.

 

[columbus]

We usually just call that eugenics. :x

Honestly, I do see a huge moral issue looming on the horizon. How different from a genetically "normal" human can an organism be and still be human?
Tom

 

[Brickjectivity]

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

Biologically such a change would result only through many small changes, and it would be in response I think to multiple environmental changes. You are talking about time periods thousands of times longer than recorded history; and you are talking about a lost humanity that has forgotten how to survive with tools. Those kinds of changes will not happen, primarily because we use our hands to make things and to stave off death. So it could happen if there were seriously terribly and freaky environmental changes, but its not going to. Also by the time there was a creature that could fly it would not be much like a human, probably. The thought of it is disappointing. Evolution is a terrible process anyway, so its a horrible thought really. You are talking about mountains of bodies, deaths that cannot be counted. We are fortunate not to know what will happen in the future, but the past is really awful.

 

[columbus]

There's also no evolutionary pressure to push out development in that direction.

No.
But suppose a clinic could give you wings or gills or something, and they were inheritable?
For a couple million dollars of course
How many people would take the offer?
Probably lots.
Tom

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Honestly, I do see a huge moral issue looming on the horizon. How different from a genetically "normal" human can an organism be and still be human?
Tom

I guess it depends on if we're talking about 'human' as a sociological term or 'human' as a taxonomic term equivalent to 'homo'. Although both don't necessarily have hard answers, imo.

 

[Father Heathen]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

This question leads me to suspect that you have no idea how evolution actually works.
Also, what is an "evolutionist"? Are there also "gravitationists"?

 

[columbus]

I guess it depends on if we're talking about 'human' as a sociological term or 'human' as a taxonomic term equivalent to 'homo'. Although both don't necessarily have hard answers, imo.

Exactly, no hard answers. Think about all the struggles the human race has had over ordinary phenotype issues, like racism. Now make bigger differences in phenotype something people can choose after they're born.

I don't have answers, but I can see huge new moral issues. When we humans aren't very able to deal with the old ones.
Tom

 

[columbus]

Oh by the way...
Hello @Crossboard .
Welcome to RF!
Tom

 

[Skwim]

Then again, maybe Intelligent Design might do better than undirected evolution.

Finally, ID might become a real thing!
Tom

Ah yes, Birdman and Birdwoman, courtesy of ID.

.

.​

 

[columbus]

Ah yes, Birdman and Birdwoman, courtesy of ID.

.

.​

That's amusing.
But suppose genetic tech moved along as fast as digital tech has? With all the advantages modern information technology can muster?

Why might such superhero qualities be beyond our abilities? Think such "augmented" humans will be as superhero ethical as the magazine versions? Suppose Superman had landed in rural Russia instead of Kansas?
Tom

 

[Crossboard]

Oh by the way...
Hello @Crossboard .
Welcome to RF!
Tom

Thank you, Tom! My first post, and quite enjoyable to see the replies. Makes me feel important, heh.. heh..

 

[YmirGF]

In the stillness of meditation, our hearts and minds do fly. They fly far higher than any physical bird could possibly compare with.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Is the following statement logical or is it illogical…?

“Human beings have the capability to someday fly."

What would you say... is this statement worthy of any consideration? Is the human species capable of giving rise to a flying descendant, or is this idea outright impossible?

Depends upon the environment. Either humans adapt or they perish. That's how Evolution works.