A new scientific research

[ManuelXX]

I give you the link about a correlation between evolution and autism. The article is in Italian but you can use a translator and read it. It's very interesting. Le possibili ragioni per cui si è evoluto l'autismo

 

[Outdated]

I didn't read the article but there's been a couple of different theories like these over the years. Some speculate that we're throwbacks from neanderthals, others worry that we're the future evolution of mankind and their own kind is dying out. All very divisive, an "us versus them" mentality.

 

[Nervous Rex]

I think there is an evolutionary advantage for the species to have a certain number of autistic people.

NTs tend to observe and copy behaviours more naturally, tending to do things the way they have always been done. I don't - and I realized this because I will do something and someone will ask, "Why did you do it that way? Why didn't you do it the way everyone else does?" ... and the answer is that I simply didn't notice how everyone else does it so I figured out my own way.

Sometimes my attempt fails and sometimes I find a better way than "the way it's always been done."

It seems to me that this would, in general, be advantageous for a certain percentage of the population to always be trying something different. When a better way is found, the entire species can benefit. In my grandiose imaginations, I can picture all of society's advancements being made this way.

 

[Judge]

I didn't read the article but there's been a couple of different theories like these over the years. Some speculate that we're throwbacks from neanderthals, others worry that we're the future evolution of mankind and their own kind is dying out. All very divisive, an "us versus them" mentality.

Inadvertent or not, politicization of science and/or pseudo-science often leads to tragic consequences. Frequently involving some kind of assertion of superiority versus inferiority.

When a quest for truth can potentially get mired in ideological or personal biases.

"The only way to win is not to play the game". - War Games (1983)

 

[Grondhammar]

My Italian is on the order of two dozen words (most of them associated with food), so Google Translate:

Lower gene activity in connecting neurons may have slowed the maturation of the human brain after birth. It means that our neocortex remained plastic and malleable for longer, extending the window in which environment and culture could leave a lasting impression . This prolongation of brain development is considered one of the crucial factors that allowed humans to learn language, accumulate knowledge, and transmit it. In other words, the same transformations that made us capable of language and culture are also those that increased the likelihood that, in certain individuals, the system would exceed the critical threshold and autistic traits would appear.

(their bolding not mine, though it is helpful)

It's an interesting article. It reminds me of one the meditations I do, "I am the way I am because my parents, grandparents, and ancestors were the way they were".

I don't think this extended malleability (or over-extended, I guess they're saying) explains all autistic traits. But it does cover some of them, like @Nervous Rex's example of not noticing how everyone else is doing things (which I definitely relate to! Could go on about how many times I've been told "don't reinvent the wheel" and how many times I've answered "try hooking a Model T wheel to an F1 car and let me know how it goes"... anyway).

Good food for thought, thanks!

 

[Outdated]

Inadvertent or not, politicization of science and/or pseudo-science often leads to tragic consequences. Frequently involving some kind of assertion of superiority versus inferiority.

Yep, there's so many variations, rich versus poor, black versus white, one religion versus another. One of the most dangerous and inflamatory situations is the Haves versus the Have Nots. In some societies it's taken to extremes with politics too, one party versus another.

It's all a part of the same thing though. In all societies it's very easy to promote this kind of black and white thinking, right or wrong with no grey areas in between, the simplicity of it appeals to a lot of people. Good and Evil.

Once led down this path it's very easy to trigger people's racism/bigotry reactions and to polarise a society. Once divided like that they're very easily manipulated and controlled to deliver great political power. This usually doesn't end well for the population being manipulated.