Not humans, it seems 😀
Here's some musings from an LLM I'm messing around with at the moment. Obviously you can get an equally compelling diametrically opposed and correct view if you like (tonights homework, maybe).
Interesting to picture this as a continuum and lay it alongside we are and where we are headed though. Especially if you imagine that there are other people out there who do believe this and may want it not to happen. I mean "increased female cooperation" for crying out loud. Who on earth want's that ? Well we know who doesn't want it ....
- Resource Intensity of Human Existence
- Current State: Humans are highly resource-intensive compared to other species due to technological advancement, population growth, and complex social systems.
- Evolutionary Pressure: As global resources become scarcer, species that are less resource-demanding or more resource-efficient may have a survival advantage
- Selection Pressure Favours Efficiency
- Environmental Constraints: Overpopulation, climate change, and diminishing resources could exert selective pressure on humans to evolve more efficient ways of living. Societies or populations that can manage resources effectively will thrive.
- Gender Roles Shift: Over time, the reproductive and social roles of males and females could shift in response to these pressures. Since females are biologically responsible for reproduction, they might evolve to have more central roles in resource management and decision-making within communities.
- Reduction in Male Population for Reproduction
- Reproductive Redundancy: Biologically, a relatively small number of males are needed for reproduction. If resource competition continues to escalate, evolution might favour a system where fewer males are maintained primarily for reproductive purposes.
- Parallel to Insect Societies: Similar to eusocial insects (e.g., bees or ants), the bulk of societal tasks, including reproduction and resource allocation, could be performed by females, while only a select few males are responsible for propagating the species(
- Increased Female Dominance in Society
- Centralized Female Leadership: If females are more directly responsible for reproduction and societal management, natural selection might drive an increase in female leadership roles. This could create a system where females manage the majority of tasks necessary for the survival and propagation of the species.
- Female Cooperation: Evolution may select for increased female cooperation and altruism to ensure the survival of offspring and the group, especially under resource scarcity
- Minimized Male Role Beyond Reproduction
- Infertile Males Performing Physical Labour: Non-reproductive males might evolve to take on supportive roles in maintaining infrastructure, defense, or other tasks that require physical labour. This would optimize the allocation of resources, as reproductive energy could be conserved for females, further enhancing efficiency(
- Reduced Conflict: A system with fewer males may lead to less competition and conflict, including war and violence, which could be seen as an advantage for group survival under resource constraints(
- Possible End Point: Female-Led, Resource-Efficient Society
- Outcome: Over hundreds of millennia, humans might evolve into a society where the majority of the population consists of females, who both reproduce and manage societal functions. Only a handful of males are necessary for the continuation of the species, and their roles are minimized outside of reproduction. Such a system could be more resource-efficient and stable under certain evolutionary pressures, particularly if human conflict decreases due to reduced male competition