Muzzerduzzer t1_jaa3tg6 wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:15 PM

Reply to comment by HegemonNYC in Revealed: Europe's Oldest Humans had Surprisingly Frequent Intermingling with Neanderthals by OptimalCrew7992

I think its because changing people's way of thinking about species (especially human species) is really hard. A good portion of the population already don't want evolution taught in school. Now throw in anything that makes it sound like we are not even %100 human.

"God's perfect and unique creation based off of his image not even human?!?!" /s

HegemonNYC t1_jaa4fbd wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:19 PM

Seems like a different crowd. Scientists simultaneously understand and embrace evolution and dna etc. Yet they also use ‘species’ when ‘regional variant’ or something similar is more appropriate. I think it’s because scientists like to discover new species, and don’t like to discover ‘a fossil of a known species that might be a little different looking’. Again, Victorian holdover.

Muzzerduzzer t1_jaa4uyy wrote on February 27, 2023 at 11:22 PM

I can see that. Maybe its a time thing. Science and history will probably mean something different in the future. Just like how science and history are different from the past.

Cupnoole t1_jaadcvn wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:22 AM

In this specific instance I think the group that you are speaking of will be quite fond of that proposition. Most of them has been rationalizing Neanderthal as just another kinds of human race, not a distinct human species.

Muzzerduzzer t1_jaaewv8 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:33 AM

I think a lot would. But there's a reason I'm not allowed to teach Sunday school anymore lol. There's a lot of fear of losing ones self worth and purpose if it's built on the idea of being unique and something that goes beyond science.