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Someone asked: Is autism a higher form of evolution?
My answer:
1) autism is genetic. This means that if environmental pressures change autism might become more adaptive to the environment. Keep in mind that evolution isn't a question of producing "higher" life, it's about
My answer:
1) autism is genetic. This means that if environmental pressures change autism might become more adaptive to the environment. Keep in mind that evolution isn't a question of producing "higher" life, it's about
the fact that organisms with maladaptive traits reproduce less. One thing we can be comfortable saying is that the presence of autism in the human gene pool definitely seems to confer adaptive advantages to the human species as a whole. Humanity is stronger because of
the diversity we bring to the table.
2) monoculture is bad. As insufferable as NT social norms can be and as awful as they treat us for not being "normal," they are capable of doing important things that we find unbearable. Just as we can do things that they can't. Having all
2) monoculture is bad. As insufferable as NT social norms can be and as awful as they treat us for not being "normal," they are capable of doing important things that we find unbearable. Just as we can do things that they can't. Having all
kinds of ways of being human means that if something comes along that preys on the weaknesses of one type of human, the rest of us can pick up the slack and keep everyone from sliding into extinction.
3) autistic people are fantastic at innovating, and many advances can be
3) autistic people are fantastic at innovating, and many advances can be
traced back to an autistic person questioning norms in society, science, culture, or art and doing the heavy lift to prove themselves right. On the other hand, NTs are very good at copying and disseminating information and in so doing it they validate or invalidate it's truth.
Many of us are not good at that, we prefer to do our own thing.
4) the real conclusion to draw is that while we are not a "superior" form of evolution, we are an essential organ in the body of humanity, and we absolutely must assert our right to exist and thrive, and must carve
4) the real conclusion to draw is that while we are not a "superior" form of evolution, we are an essential organ in the body of humanity, and we absolutely must assert our right to exist and thrive, and must carve
out a space within society where we can be us and do our thing.
