What are the forgotten reasons to be concerned?

The wonderful annual question from the Edge website conducted by New York literary agent John Brockman brings together voices from the world of science and thinking about science to reflections on vital questions. This years question is “What should we be worried about?” – that is, what are the things that we do not worry about – but should.

Answers range from the lack of interest in politics amongst smart people (Brian Eno) over Magic, Physics, Viruses, Teenagers and Men. Several respondents touch upon the same worry that I pointed to: The future of human reproduction (Geoffrey Miller, David Buss, Kevin Kelly and more).

My contribution is here:

The Loss of Lust

We should worry about loosing lust as the guiding principle for the reproduction of our species.

Throughout history human beings have executed great wisdom in choosing partners for reproduction through the guidance of instincts and intense desire. Much of the aesthetic pleasure and joy we take from watching other members of our species is rooted in indicators for fertility, gene quality and immune system compatibility. Thus our lust holds considerable prudence.

When it comes to the number of offspring, we have now collectively managed to stabilize the world population by the middle of this century through decentralized decision-making. The demographic transition is not a result of scientific planning but of the biological cleverness of individual couples.

The stabilization of the population means that it is ever more important that the biological preferences expressed in lust dominate the reproduction since fewer babies are born and they will live longer.

Attempts to rationalize reproduction through biotechnologies and screening of eggs, sperm, partners and embryos will interfere with the lust-dominated process. It is worrying that this could mean the loss of an evolved expertise in survivability.

Also, the desire to reproduce leads to the advertising of good genes and general fertility through a cultural and societal display of skills and sexiness. These are major, if not dominant sources of the unconscious drive for creating great results in science, art and social life. Attempts to shortcut mating preferences and the matching process through clinical control could lead not only to a loss of quality in the offspring but also to a loss of cultural fertility.

Katinka Matson’s beautiful scan of a clematis decorates the Edge Question 2013 responses.