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i_love_limestoday at 9:11 AM3 repliesview on HN

I think people in HN (and in general) have to remember the central axes of evolution before digesting this kind of article. I've already seen comments like it's "odd that no species has ended up evolving a continuous maintenance system" and "sleep has a higher opportunity cost in humans" in this comments section.

This is a common, but poor framing of evolution. Remember: the only real rule with evolution is "did this evolutionary change mean they survived / reproduced more"? Evolution is not a local or global maxima solving function. I find this kind of attempt at interpreting selection common with engineers, programmers, etc.


Replies

hackernud3stoday at 9:25 AM

Did their genes survive more, you mean. Hyper-vigilance could be maladaptive for the individual and still survive if it benefits others that carry the gene for it.

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yuretztoday at 9:22 AM

I can see why it isn't a local or global maxima solving function, but it surely can be modelled by one, right?

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FallCheeta7373today at 9:49 AM

To be precise inclusive genetic fitness not idealized bayesian optimality.