The Auron MacIntyre Show Can Modern Societies Reproduce Themselves? | Guest: Geoffrey Miller | 7/25/25
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Jul 25, 2025 Geoffrey Miller, an evolutionary psychologist and professor at the University of New Mexico, delves into the alarming trend of declining birth rates worldwide. He discusses how technological advancements might hinder family formation and the disconnect between sexual activity and reproduction. The conversation emphasizes the need for cultural shifts that prioritize family over individual pursuits while addressing modern dating dynamics. Miller also explores AI's influence on relationships and the critical role of community and caregiving in nurturing future generations.
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Modernity's Fertility Mismatch
- Modernity introduces contraception that decouples sex from reproduction, causing global fertility collapse.
- This evolutionary mismatch impacts all advanced societies and drives down birth rates worldwide.
Community Identity Drives Fertility
- Societies with strong ethno-nationalist or religious identities maintain higher birth rates due to communal pressure.
- Multiculturalism tends to dilute fertility concerns by weakening shared ancestry and cultural cohesion.
Strivers Delay Family Formation
- Many striving middle-class individuals delay childbearing due to career pressures and resource constraints.
- Fertility drops particularly in this middle group because status-seeking often takes precedence over family formation.
