Are autistic people a new human species? (and more thoughts)

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Advantage in some areas does not confer evolutionary advantage, especially if those advantages are perceived as disadvantages by potential mates.

Non-autistic people are also able to concentrate on intricate and repetitive tasks for long periods of time. They are also able to discover new principles and innovate new ideas. They are also capable of "thinking outside the box". The only evolutionary advantages they have over us are greater social aptitude and the propensity for verbal communication - both of which are known to increase one's chances to pass along one's genes to the next generation, which is inherent to having an evolutionary advantage.

We cannot live in isolation, away from the wider world.

I don't think of aspies as being evolved per se, however, I do think some of the tendencies are evolved traits. They are an advantage in areas certainly. Another area you may find relevant is the information integration theory of consciousness. However, I have only briefly read up on it, so no comment.

Lastly, species branch off due to different areas of specialization. Kind of like races of human. We have adapted to different habitats and etc. Perhaps this is simply an adaptation of the mind that could one day lead to a differently specialized subtype of human, ie species.

So, I disagree, I do say there are evolutionary advantages in the form of tendencies and traits.

I do not, as most of us have reiterated already, think that aspies are 'evolved' per se.

I don't think people with autism are superior, just different and thanks to the Internet, more genetically "fit" than they were before. Genetics isn't progressive of course, it's a mindless natural force.

Evolution is "stupid", just like gravity. It's not that anything is programmed or intelligent, it's just that those individuals who reproduce a lot before they die pass on more genes than those who don't. Traits such as strength and intelligence make it more likely you won't die and you'll be able to have sex.

So if there is a "game changer" that makes those individuals more likely and able to pass on their genes, they will be expressed more in future generations.

I'm a left winger and hate the idea of eugenics (aside from perhaps preventing things like cystic fibrosis via gene therapy) so I'd never claim that just because autism seems to be the future of human evolution that it makes neurotypicals inferior.

Last edited by Decadeology on 19 Dec 2015, 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

I just don't believe our advantages in the technological realm will lead to actual biological changes which would represent a significant departure from our subspecies--to the point where a taxonomic change must be made.

Perhaps not any time soon, however, consider this. An aspie who has issues in a NT social realm will prefer the company of those like him/her. And, what will that lead to? Aspies breeding with aspies. Thus, the traits, tendencies, and genes will continue to be passed down and continue to evolve, which could very well lead to what we speak of.

Most Aspies are not employed in tech. Some are in the creative fields. Many if not most are under or unemployed.

The Internet is good for people on the spectrum because by communicating by that method one usually does not have to deal with body language or looking people in the eye.

And if genius breed that might result in more geniuses. This does not neccessarly mean Aspie geniuses.

Who knows? Maybe 10,000 years down the road, we could talk about a new autistic "race." But that's a big maybe.

Races of people do not a subspecies make. There's no Homo sapiens africanus, for example.

I just believe that these so-called evolutionary advantages will, as now, just run in families.

I agree. There are definitely strong barriers to overcome for this to happen and I find it highly improbable all things considered.

I think some of our traits are certainly useful. Society needs us. Many of them are a hindrance but it depends upon the degree.

From my vast archives of my intellect. I definitely think autism is not "new".

If anyone claims that people with autism are a new human species, then I challenge them to produce genuine, valid, and vetted empirical evidence to support their claims.

Something other than what they may have conjured up in their own minds, heard on talk radio, seen on TV, or read on some conspiracy theorist's website.

This is proof that autistics are truely some badass mother f*****s.

We're like the X Men, a sub species of humanity. Ready to take over the world and kick some ass!

Just as soon as we stop stimming, flapping, making weird noises, and posting garbage on social websites.

No.

I've discussed this subject long and hard with other interested parties. Long enough to have heard it all, and hard enough to have reached my own conclusion.

We're not a new species, we're still very much human. It could, however, be said, that we are the next step in human evolution.