You know, I've recently wondered quite a bit about aging and how any of it makes sense.
What has perplexed me is the notion of honest signals[1] in a world governed by natural selection and the survival of the fittest. Why wouldn't cheating exclusively emerge as the only strategy? Why wouldn't a species evolve a mechanism to survive longer and longer till it completely dominates?
Then it dawned on me that the survival of the species is not aligned with the survival of an individual. Cheating maximizes the benefit to that individual. But possibly damages the collective. Why is why honest signals even exist.
Aging and death as being pre-programmed is in service of the collective and that's why it even exists.
A bit of existential dread. But sharing it nonetheless.
What has perplexed me is the notion of honest signals[1] in a world governed by natural selection and the survival of the fittest. Why wouldn't cheating exclusively emerge as the only strategy? Why wouldn't a species evolve a mechanism to survive longer and longer till it completely dominates?
Then it dawned on me that the survival of the species is not aligned with the survival of an individual. Cheating maximizes the benefit to that individual. But possibly damages the collective. Why is why honest signals even exist.
Aging and death as being pre-programmed is in service of the collective and that's why it even exists.
A bit of existential dread. But sharing it nonetheless.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_theory