[–] Carsandsarcasm [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

The only other things I might add is that smells might become a differentiating feature between a race of clones too on top of, or as well, as behaviour. Plenty of other animals signal fitness through non-appearance means. We could sing as well. It might be worth asking the blind about how they conceive of beauty too.

Ultimately, the question might be as simple as whether "beauty" is the right word to use or what the definition of beauty is. We use beauty as being synonymous with evolutionary fitness, but it's not necessarily true and it doesn't have to be that way. If we competed over smells or songs or dances, we might still describe attractive smells/songs/dances as being beautiful or we might use a different word. The definition of beauty might just move to match the things we find attractive even if they aren't visual. As long as we use sensory signalling to display genetic fitness, beauty in terms of being attractive in some form will probably be inseparable from fitness.

[–] OrsonKaarte 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Thanks to both for in interesting conversation. Deep and meaningful stuff. I feel a bit thick telling you what I was pondering before I fell asleep but here goes...

Earlier in the evening, in a clear dark sky, the ISS passed directly overhead - visible for about four minutes, it always impresses me. I was still thinking about it when I went to bed when the thought popped up. Does it matter that the ISS orbits in the same direction as the Earth rotates?

I have a couple of theories but would like to hear from others before I share them.

[–] Carsandsarcasm [S] ago 

I have never gotten around to watching the ISS fly over. It's such a simple thing I never bother to do. Speaking of satellites, this picture always blows my mind. I'm sure they are quite far apart in reality, but there is a lot of crap up there.

I believe the direction does matter, though I'm talking out of my butt a little bit on this one. I know that the fact that the Earth and the moon are tidally locked is because there is a force exerted between them that, once they do tidally lock, drags them back to being locked whenever they try to split. I would guess that this force applies to the ISS and putting it in rotation with the earth reduces the "drag."

I also imagine it's more convenient for the astronauts to not be radically shifting time zones in the opposite direction. The ISS would probably be in a geosynchronous orbit to keep them on a regular schedule with the people on the ground if it wasn't that they like it moving around so they can see different areas. That would be my guess.