Profectus theory
The Profectus Theory is an explanation for the unique population growth of the human species. It proposes the evolutionary-driven high intelligence[1] in humans, coupled with exposure to specific resources and climates, allows for the species to bypass limiting factors which traditionally regulate advancement, population size, and progression.
Overview[edit]
In biology, the carrying capacity of a species is generally regulated by the resources available, such as food, habitat, drinking water, and other necessities available in the environment.[2] Human intelligence has allowed for the development of techniques and technology which allowed biologically unconventional control over acquiring and distributing of resources. This attribute effectively nullifies several of the established limits on the species faced earlier in development/evolution.[3] The advancements include the development of advanced agricultural methods, biomedical advances, communication instruments, and several modern day technologies in use.[4]
The theory focuses on the set of factors (mainly intelligence, technology, resources) which specifically allow the human population to progress and advance.[citation needed]
Historical background[edit]
As long ago as 1789, Thomas Malthus studied the nature of population growth in Europe. He claimed that population was increasing faster than food production, and he feared eventual global starvation. However, Malthus did not account for the technological advances that allowed humans to circumvent localized food resource depletion. Many of the hypotheses in profectus theory date back to the 1950s, after World War II, when the population of less developed countries began to increase dramatically. The following decades saw large increases in human population in developing countries (i.e. Latin America, Africa, Polynesia) while more developed countries (i.e. Europe, North America, Australia) saw only modest increase.
In 1960, Edward Smith Deevey Jr., published the article "The Human Population",[5] which took an in-depth look at the growth of humans, and questioned both the reasons for this, and the consequences. Deevey noted that other organisms self-regulate population size (i.e. fruit-flies lay less eggs when in higher concentrations), and that humans had not shown similar characteristics thus far; further distinguishing humans from most species. Deevey also studied the correlation to technological advancement and the global human population, focusing mainly on agricultural and industrial technology.
Although the principles described by the profectus theory have been in effect for centuries, the term itself is relatively nascent. It only first become part of the lexicon in the 21st century, after mounting evidence/research of the continued growth/expansion of the human species.[6][7]
Profectus Point[edit]
The Profectus Point refers to the theoretical point in time in which the human advancement reached a level allowing for the population to no longer be substantially affected by the traditional limiting factors which inhibited exponential population growth.[citation needed] It is noted this point refers only to human advancement, and not human intelligence[8].
The exact point in time is currently debated, but it is theorized to have been reached within the past millennium.[citation needed]
Agricultural influence[edit]
There has been some discussion about the specific influence the advances in agriculture played in human population growth. It has been widely regarded the neolithic revolution was responsible for significant increase in the population, due to human's shift from hunter-gathering to agriculture. However, recent research suggests that "the global climate and/or biological factors intrinsic to the species and not factors related to the regional environment or [agricultural] practices regulated the growth of the human population for most of the last 12,000 [years]".[9]
As a result, some have questioned the profectus theory's inclusion of agriculture as one of the main advances which allowed for population growth.[citation needed]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Menger, Fredric (Summer 2017). "Molecular Lamarckism: On the Evolution of Human Intelligence". The Journal of New Paradigm Research.[not in citation given]
- ↑ "Economic growth, carrying capacity, and the environment". Ecological Economics. 15 (2): 91–95. 1995-11-01. doi:10.1016/0921-8009(95)00059-3. ISSN 0921-8009.
- ↑ Kaplan, Hillard; Hill, Kim; Lancaster, Jane; Hurtado, A. Magdalena (2000-01-01). "A theory of human life history evolution: Diet, intelligence, and longevity". Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews. 9 (4): 156–185. doi:10.1002/1520-6505(2000)9:43.0.CO;2-7. ISSN 1520-6505.
- ↑ Dumond, Don E. (1975). "The Limitation of Human Population: A Natural History". Science. 187 (4178): 713–721. JSTOR 1739799.
- ↑ Deevey, Edward S. (1960). "The Human Population". Scientific American. 203 (3): 194–205. JSTOR 24940623.
- ↑ Bongaarts, John (2009-10-27). "Human population growth and the demographic transition". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 364 (1532): 2985–2990. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0137. ISSN 0962-8436. PMC 2781829. PMID 19770150.[not in citation given]
- ↑ Baldini, Ryan (2015-04-01). "The Importance of Population Growth and Regulation in Human Life History Evolution". PLOS ONE. 10 (4): e0119789. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0119789. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 4382128. PMID 25830310.[not in citation given]
- ↑ Lohman, David F. (December 1, 1989). "Human Intelligence: An Introduction to Advances in Theory and Research". Review of Educational Research.[not in citation given]
- ↑ Zahid, H. Jabran; Robinson, Erick; Kelly, Robert L. (2016-01-26). "Agriculture, population growth, and statistical analysis of the radiocarbon record". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 113 (4): 931–935. doi:10.1073/pnas.1517650112. ISSN 0027-8424. PMID 26699457.
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