Why do individuals want to reproduce?

[optimisticzoomer]

Ok, so the fundamental idea of reproducing is to continue survival of the species. If they all stopped reproducing, obviously the species would die out. For one, I don't get why this matters to the individual. It's like, I couldn't care less if humans eased to exist once I'm dead.

But also, currently there is no threat of human beings going extinct any time soon. In fact, everyone procreating is creating a hostile environment which makes existing harder, and this overpopulation is less beneficial to the survival of the species. So, following on from my previous point, I dont get the desire to continue the survival of the species, but also: we have the conscious ability to realise that our species is not in danger of too few individuals, so this must affect our decision-making.

Then we have other species, who are not overpopulated and may not have the conscious abilities. Take, for example, lions. Why are the males so desperate to compete with each other to reproduce with the females? Is this purely for the enjoyment of sex, without thinking of the outcome being offspring? Maybe, but then what about animals that die just so they can pass on their genes? If it is for the survival of the species, why do individuals care so much that it is their genes that are passed on, rather than other, stronger and healthier individuals?

If you think about it, there is no actual benefit to the individual of passing on their genes. Once they die, they're not going to know any better. And future generations aren't going to be remembering their ancestor.

It just seems strange to me. You can't just explain it with "it's a biological urge" because I'm wondering why that is the case. I'm talking purely from a biological point of view here, and ignoring other reasons why you wouldn't want children, as that is a different topic.

Apparently there is a book trying to uncover this called "The Selfish Gene", but right now, it's still a mystery, and probably won't ever be fully understood

 

[Deleted member 6723]

 

[optimisticzoomer]

View attachment 867794

Crowded teeth's me

 

[Kaworu]

Ok, so the fundamental idea of reproducing is to continue survival of the species. If they all stopped reproducing, obviously the species would die out. For one, I don't get why this matters to the individual. It's like, I couldn't care less if humans eased to exist once I'm dead.

But also, currently there is no threat of human beings going extinct any time soon. In fact, everyone procreating is creating a hostile environment which makes existing harder, and this overpopulation is less beneficial to the survival of the species. So, following on from my previous point, I dont get the desire to continue the survival of the species, but also: we have the conscious ability to realise that our species is not in danger of too few individuals, so this must affect our decision-making.

Then we have other species, who are not overpopulated and may not have the conscious abilities. Take, for example, lions. Why are the males so desperate to compete with each other to reproduce with the females? Is this purely for the enjoyment of sex, without thinking of the outcome being offspring? Maybe, but then what about animals that die just so they can pass on their genes? If it is for the survival of the species, why do individuals care so much that it is their genes that are passed on, rather than other, stronger and healthier individuals?

If you think about it, there is no actual benefit to the individual of passing on their genes. Once they die, they're not going to know any better. And future generations aren't going to be remembering their ancestor.

It just seems strange to me. You can't just explain it with "it's a biological urge" because I'm wondering why that is the case. I'm talking purely from a biological point of view here, and ignoring other reasons why you wouldn't want children, as that is a different topic.

Apparently there is a book trying to uncover this called "The Selfish Gene", but right now, it's still a mystery, and probably won't ever be fully understood

Basically when life first started to evolve, all the organisms who didn't put asexual reproduction as a base need died out
At the time that sexula production became a thing then it was just super rooted in our biology

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Basically when life first started to evolve, all the organisms who didn't put asexual reproduction as a base need died out
At the time that sexula production became a thing then it was just super rooted in our biology

Yes, but I'm wondering why individuals are so concerned with THEIR specific genes being passed on, when there may be healthier individuals

 

[Kaworu]

Yes, but I'm wondering why individuals are so concerned with THEIR specific genes being passed on, when there may be healthier individuals

Because those are base desires that have been wired in for billions of years and carries across species And has been the case in our evolutionary timeline
We all share extremely similar genetics and our bodies can't just scan to see if we have good or bad genetics

Evolution is not a process of a creator it is the byproduct of creation and what drove human evolution was sexual selection, not natural selection

 

[Deleted member 9699]

Because horny

 

[Deleted member 10491]

Because those are base desires that have been wired in for billions of years and carries across species And has been the case in our evolutionary timeline
We all share extremely similar genetics and our bodies can't just scan to see if we have good or bad genetics

Evolution is not a process of a creator it is the byproduct of creation and what drove human evolution was sexual selection, not natural selection

should i go heat up my in n out burger rn i'm hungry ngl

 

[Kaworu]

should i go heat up my in n out burger rn i'm hungry ngl

Yes

 

[Deleted member 7697]

Only white people should breed. Fuck deaathnix

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Because those are base desires that have been wired in for billions of years and carries across species And has been the case in our evolutionary timeline
We all share extremely similar genetics and our bodies can't just scan to see if we have good or bad genetics

Evolution is not a process of a creator it is the byproduct of creation and what drove human evolution was sexual selection, not natural selection

Yeah and I'm trying to understand those desires, because no one can. Rather than just accepting the fact, I want to uncover why that is the case. Which is very hard in biology

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Because horny

Yeah, but humans have contraception

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah and I'm trying to understand those desires, because no one can. Rather than just accepting the fact, I want to uncover why that is the case. Which is very hard in biology

Like I said those desires just are rooted when life was still early

ok so life just started

Organism 1 and 2 ( they are asexual)

Organism 1 puts sex on a somewhat important scale and reproduces while 2 doesnt and dies

Organisms 1's children 1a and 2b do the same

Organism 1b puts sex on a more important level important scale and reproduces while 1a doesnt and dies

1b reproduces

1b's children 1bc and 1bd go through the same thing and they continue

Until eventually after billions of years it became such a base line for existence which was

Keep eat, sleep, avoid death, and keep homeostasis to keep individual alive

Reproduction to keep species alive

The individual's that kept those two things as 1. Priorities are the ones that eventually gave birth to our ancestors

 

[thickdickdaddy27]

if they come to terms with their insignificance in the vast universe, I bet they'll have a different stance on this. Most people are too close-minded to realize this

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah, but humans have contraception

Now here is the thing

When sexual reproduction became a thing, the way that organisms organized themselves at started to change again, based on there environment

We are to our core as primates extremely social animals have created super complex social structures

The only reason for Contraception is to prevent kids because human children take 18 years to raise and that becomes a cornerstone of being human which a couple just want to enjoy the pleasure of sex

 

[Kaworu]

if they come to terms with their insignificance in the vast universe, I bet they'll have a different stance on this. Most people are too close-minded to realize this

It all depends on perspective

Are we small creatures in an infinite universe or are we in fact the universe ourselves creating reality in our own mind with our reality being one of our creation and realization


In the end you are human and concepts like time and distance of objects are made up tools our minds made up

Nothing is real except the certainly that you are a thinking object

 

[Deleted member 4106]

Biological instinct, and social incentive.
It is also a cope for irresponsible people who have unwanted pregnancies.

 

[Kaworu]

Biological instinct, and social incentive.
It is also a cope for irresponsible people who have unwanted pregnancies.

I mean yeah, he was asking the reason fur that stuff tho

I love your pfp btw Shonomiya is so pure and cute

 

[thickdickdaddy27]

Are we small creatures in an infinite universe or are we in fact the universe ourselves creating reality in our own mind with our reality being one of our creation and realization

our bodies are essentially made up of star stuff so both perspectives are indeed sound

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Like I said those desires just are rooted when life was still early

ok so life just started

Organism 1 and 2 ( they are asexual)

Organism 1 puts sex on a somewhat important scale and reproduces while 2 doesnt and dies

Organisms 1's children 1a and 2b do the same

Organism 1b puts sex on a more important level important scale and reproduces while 1a doesnt and dies

1b reproduces

1b's children 1bc and 1bd go through the same thing and they continue

Until eventually after billions of years it became such a base line for existence which was

Keep eat, sleep, avoid death, and keep homeostasis to keep individual alive

Reproduction to keep species alive

The individual's that kept those two things as 1. Priorities are the ones that eventually gave birth to our ancestors

Then why do asexual people exist? Why isnt this more widespread?

Also, why do females care so much about who they mate with? Why do we want the best survival of offspring? The innate desire is just to reproduce, why care so much about the survival and reproduction of the offspring?

 

[Kaworu]

Then why do asexual people exist? Why isnt this more widespread?

Also, why do females care so much about who they mate with? Why do we want the beat survival of offspring? The innate desire is just to reproduce, why care so much about the survival and reproduction of the offspring?

Asexual people are just either people with mental disorders and the feel to be special or people that because they have a pursuit of meaning (monks etc.) which has become a more innate desire with the evolution of the human race while we have sexual reproduction as a prime, base, and powerful desire the new social net working in Human minds can over ride that

Females caring who they mate with is actually a characteristic that chimps do not have which w me split from before evolving in the Homo Genus

As we ate more nutritious foods that were protien and fat compacted then the better the systems for detecting health in individuals in a species became

As our social structures became more complex and as the alpha males which already would drive away chimps (which chimps don't care who they mate with) females started to desire genetics closest to the ones given which became more complex due to our brains.

Again the main desire is to reproduce and the organisms who were able to take care of their offspring while they were developing were the ones that survived

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Asexual people are just either people with mental disorders and the feel to be special or people that because they have a pursuit of meaning (monks etc.) which has become a more innate desire with the evolution of the human race while we have sexual reproduction as a prime, base, and powerful desire the new social net working in Human minds can over ride that

Females caring who they mate with is actually a characteristic that chimps do not have which w me split from before evolving in the Homo Genus

As we ate more nutritious foods that were protien and fat compacted then the better the systems for detecting health in individuals in a species became

As our social structures became more complex and as the alpha males which already would drive away chimps (which chimps don't care who they mate with) females started to desire genetics closest to the ones given which became more complex due to our brains.

Again the main desire is to reproduce and the organisms who were able to take care of their offspring while they were developing were the ones that survived

Yeah but what is the benefit of reproducing? As I said, why does the survival of the species matter to the individual? Ignoring conscious factors in humans who can acknowledge there is no need for most people to reproduce.

Tbh this is a partly philosophical idea and, although not directly related, is a similar idea to why any life exists and the purpose of life in the first place.

But again, not totally related cos my original question is acknowledging the fact that some individuals need to reproduce

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah but what is the benefit of reproducing? As I said, why does the survival of the species matter to the individual? Ignoring conscious factors in humans who can acknowledge there is no need for most people to reproduce.

Tbh this is a partly philosophical idea and, although not directly related, is a similar idea to why any life exists and the purpose of life in the first place.

But again, not totally related cos my original question is acknowledging the fact that some individuals need to reproduce

Ok so if I ma right then

What you are asking is "what is the point of reproducing?"

Their is no point

We are just following what a system (our bodies) tell us to do

Its all by chance

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah but what is the benefit of reproducing? As I said, why does the survival of the species matter to the individual? Ignoring conscious factors in humans who can acknowledge there is no need for most people to reproduce.

Tbh this is a partly philosophical idea and, although not directly related, is a similar idea to why any life exists and the purpose of life in the first place.

But again, not totally related cos my original question is acknowledging the fact that some individuals need to reproduce

Purpose is also a concept that humans made up, Purpose isn't real on a Metaphysical level

why life exists?

Some Chemicals just started mixing together in the cracks of the earth

whether it was ordained by a God like power Aliens or something else

We dont know

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Ok so if I ma right then

What you are asking is "what is the point of reproducing?"

Their is no point

We are just following what a system (our bodies) tell us to do

Its all by chance

Yeah that's basically what I'm asking. But humans are conscious enough to have the choice whether to have children, which is why many don't. But I'm just confused why so many people still do. Overpopulation, freedom, dislike for children, money etc are reasons off the top of my head

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Purpose is also a concept that humans made up, Purpose isn't real on a Metaphysical level

why life exists?

Some Chemicals just started mixing together in the cracks of the earth

whether it was ordained by a God like power Aliens or something else

We dont know

Yeah so then why did reproduction take place in the first place?

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah that's basically what I'm asking. But humans are conscious enough to have the choice whether to have children, which is why many don't. But I'm just confused why so many people still do. Overpopulation, freedom, dislike for children, money etc are reasons off the top of my head

again just because we are conscious of things and have free will (Best assumption but still debatable) The primitive brain is better engineered and is at the core of what created our new evolved brain

It is a core motivator like I said we are following what are bodies tell us, I understand your question but If a system has such a strong compulsion to do an action and the system is aware that there is no need to do so the system will do that action unless if the system finds a better reason to noto ( Spiritual enlightenment Empathy etc.)

 

[optimisticzoomer]

again just because we are conscious of things and have free will (Best assumption but still debatable) The primitive brain is better engineered and is at the core of what created our new evolved brain

It is a core motivator like I said we are following what are bodies tell us, I understand your question but If a system has such a strong compulsion to do an action and the system is aware that there is no need to do so the system will do that action unless if the system finds a better reason to noto ( Spiritual enlightenment Empathy etc.)

Yeah but I would say the desire is for sex, rather than raising children. in which case, contraception

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah so then why did reproduction take place in the first place?

following the instructions given

if you make a system that A will always turn blue and B will turn red then it will do that

thats just how the systems were set up which were based on probability

 

[Kaworu]

Yeah but I would say the desire is for sex, rather than raising children. in which case, contraception

the desire is for sex but the desire for rasing children is a strong female one that really grows its strongest in a woman's mid 30s

 

[optimisticzoomer]

following the instructions given

if you make a system that A will always turn blue and B will turn red then it will do that

thats just how the systems were set up which were based on probability

Yeah but I mean from the very first unicellular organisms

 

[optimisticzoomer]

the desire is for sex but the desire for rasing children is a strong female one that really grows its strongest in a woman's mid 30s

That doesn't explain other male animals that die just to reproduce

 

[Kaworu]

That doesn't explain other male animals that die just to reproduce

because their social structures evolved to be that way for whatever reason ( Natural Selection)

 

[coping ethnic]

Bringing ur biological child into world in is the only way to cope with ur own death.

 

[optimisticzoomer]

Bringing ur biological child into world in is the only way to cope with ur own death.

Once ur dead u dont know any better. I'd rather live a free life without being restricted by having to raise a kid for 18+ years and die, than have my life taken up by some kid and then die