Remark #2The theory of natural selection is that, in a changing environment those organisms that have traits which gives them some sort of survival advantage in that environment will gain an egde over both other organisms within their species and in general gain an edge for their species over others. Because of this advantage, they will be survive more, and reproduce more. Thus, in an environment there will always be traits that are more dominant than others.
This is no different from today. Our environment has changed because we changed it, but there are still certain traits that are advantageous to those within our civilizations. Being physically strong is still considered advantageous, and while being weak can be easily overcome with an able mind or skill in some useful area, having a kind of physical/mental defect or illness will usually result in a death earlier than those who are healthier and their inability to reproduce. Also, intelligence is something that is very suitable for our environment, for it will allow you to really make something of yourself and will attract many more suitors/mates.
However, natural selection is not the only kind of selection that functions, at least not if you believe everything in Darwin's theory. He also argued for an artificial selection and a sexual selection. The former is a theory that, at best, only works within specific confines and never won over many adherents. Sexual selection, however, is something that I think has become much more prevalent with the advancement of our civilization. It has gotten to the point where our survival, even if you are somehow deficient in the 'survival of the fittest' way, is not nearly as big an issue as it would be in the past and so sexual selection - reproduction/choice is based more on sexually appealing traits rather than those better able to survive - has become more and more dominant. Still, a lot of people have argued that 'attractive' qualities in a mate are based on survival instincts; i.e., a woman with curves is seen as attractive, but biologically speaking the greater the ratio between chest, waist and hip (there's a name for the measurement, I just cant recall it) the better able they will be to bear children.
So all I think has happened is that human beings have become able to control their environments because of the advancement of civilization, and so they are to some extent able to control the function of natural selection, making it a bit more artificial if you will.
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Topic: Has Civilization Halted Natural Selection In Humans? (Read 1097 times)