Starting a new Civilization (SITUATIONER)

Question

Starting a new Civilization

Situation: A nuclear war has just takne place. Soon, most of the world will be destroyed by radiation. However, you, the delegates of the United Nations(UN), have just learned that because of the unusual wind patterns, one small uninhabited island in front of General luna in Siargao(Surigao,Philippines) will not be annihilated. Scientists have studied that plants on the island will be damaged,but the soil will not be ruined.

Unfortunately,there is only time for one small airplane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to make it to the island. Aside from the pilot, the plane can carry only seven people but there are eleven people at the airport who want to get on the plane. As delegates of the UN,you have one hour to decide which of the following people,and which should be left behind.

Think Critically: Decide carefully that the seven people you choose will be responsible to begin a new world civilization.

Decide: Reasons in favor for survival

Reasons against survival

Conclusion

Possible Survivors:

1. A man of religion(65 years of age)

2. An Invalid male medical doctor (42 years of age)

3. Female classical opera singer (32 years of age)

4. A policeman with a gun(27 years of age)

5. The Chief of the Tala-andig tribe (age unknown)

6. Pregnant wife of the chief Tala-andig tribe (age unknown)

7. A female teacher of college english (34 years of age)

8. A male judge(45 years of age)

9. A female university professor in Physics( 30 years of age)

10. A South Pacific Warrior with a spear (male, age unknown)

11. A female alcoholic agricultural scientist (29 years of age)

Answer 1

There will be no civilization... there simply aren't enough humans to restart a new population (a previous answer pointed this out).

You need a founder population of at least 25 fertile couples. This has to do with inbreeding difficulties from recessive genes. In smaller creatures that reproduce faster this wouldn't be an issue, but humans reproduce very slowly, so a high rate of genetic defects would make us extinct in that scenario.

Answer, all females of childbearing age, this is the single most important criteria of all. The alcoholism won't be an issue soon.

(5 down).

The cop (I wouldn't want to try stopping him, he's also young and reasonably fit)

The Dr (just too useful to leave, and still fertile and healthy at 42).

Answer 2

Let them all go, except #1, #4, #8 and #10...

That makes the fewest men (2), and the most women (5) + a pilot of unknown gender...

The doctor, though invalid, is useful to have when babies start being born. Also, just because he's invalid, doesn't mean he's infertile!

Those who question #11, though she's alcoholic now, she will soon recover, and be able to put her energies into growing plants...

Though it would be a slow development, they could potentially produce 5 new babies per year!

Answer 3

It ain't goin' to happen.  Given this scenario, no new civilization will be formed because the number of people is below the critical numbers required for a stable breeding population.  Add the plant damage and food might be scarce or missing entirely, especially if a Nuclear Winter develops.

Next:  Even given the conditions above, the information is not nearly enough to make this determination:

(0) Is the pilot male or female?

(1) Is he a Zen monk or a celibate priest?  Is he in good health or on his last legs?

(2) Invalid as in quadriplegic or dying of AIDS?  Can he still practice medicine?  Is he a dermatologist or plastic surgeon or a general practitioner?  Will he have needed medical supplies?

(3) What are her hobbies?  Is she in good health?

(4)  Is the gun part of the deal?  You say policeman, but is this a male?  Is he or she in good health?

(5)  Can he speak with and understand the others?  Does he think he need to be the ruler?  Is he in good health?

(6)  Can she speak with and understand the others?  Is he in good health?

(7)  What has she done besides go to school.  Is she in good health?

(8)  What kind of judge and from what culture?  Is he in good health?

(9)   What has she done besides go to school.  Is she in good health?

(10)  Is the spear part of the deal?  Is he a cannibal?  Can he speak with and understand the others?  Is he in good health?

(11)   What has she done besides go to school.  Is she in good health or is her liver damaged beyond repair?

There are also a couple of very important question in regards to all 11 people.  Do they want to go?  Will they put aside any personal preferences of sexuality or religious vows to help repopulate the Earth?

Just using logic, the top choice to go would be the pregnant woman (you get 2 humans for the price of one).  After that, I would give preference to the females.  If any die in childbirth, the project could come to a screaming halt.

My solution would be to let all 11 decide who gets on the plane.  Take away the weapons first.  If they cannot decide who among them needs to go or stay (and in a very reasonable time period), then there is no hope of saving humanity.

Answer 4

Since the two Tala-andig are from the Philippines they are the logical choice for the first two slots.  They'll know the local weather patterns, best times to plant and harvest, etc.  Plus the wife is pregnant, which is a head start on repopulating the world and proves both the chief and the wife are fertile.

After that the skills of the people are irrelevant.  The next slots go to all the females.  More females equal faster rates of childbirth, which is the most important thing at this time.

The last seat should be given to the policeman, since he is the youngest male and could father the most children.