Are our thoughts above natural selection or part of it?

Question

Are our cognitive processes, ideas, beliefs, and patterns of thinking part of natural selection that brought us here? Or is natural selection only physical and external?

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Neither or both...

Our basic cognitive apparatus was designed by evolution, but the actual thoughts arise from the interaction of this system with the social and natural environment.

So, we are broadly similar in the WAY we think, but are complex enough and live in a complex enough environment that our specific beliefs, etc are not predictable from evolutionary considerations.

Interesting and relevant link below.

Answer 2

Man, you really picked the wrong forum to ask a serious philosophical question! Let me give you my answer anyway.

Natural selection, as a theory, states that attributes which help creatures stay alive in a particular environment are passed down to the next generation. This happens automatically, because creatures with these attributes live while the others die. It doesn't require thought, or even instinct - it just happens.

However, speaking strictly of physical survival, humanity has pretty much negated natural selection completely. You can have any disability and still be able to live and have kids. Certain debilitating or fatal diseases can be hereditary, but even then our medicine has advanced to the point where these people are able to pass on their genes anyways. In the strictest sense of the term, natural selection doesn't apply to humanity anymore.

Finally, thought must operate independently of natural selection because thought can contradict it. Natural selection is powered by the will to survive, but thought can lead to suicide or to self-sacrifice, both of which transcend self-preservation. Natural selection is also powered by self-propagation through having children, but thought can lead to homosexuality or celibacy. Natural selection presupposes that a creature always chooses what's best for it in a particular environment, but thought can lead to poor choices. Obviously thought is separate from natural selection, and (because it can override it) thought is also superior to natural selection. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Definately some thoughts are part of it. There is a the field of 'evolutionary psychology' which says that some of our thoughts are, in part, shaped by our past evolution.

BUT that doesn't mean selfish thoughts rule. We are a social animal so, to an extent, altruism rules - not just for the fact that our 'tribe' carries our genes, nor for the fact that we are all so closely related (less genetic diversity in the whole human race than between two sibling gorillas) - but for the fact that altruism keeps society together.

Evolution has also given us an unprecedented intelligence which gives us the ability to break free of, and condition ourselves against, thoughts which other parts of our evolutionary thought processes tells us are immoral, like prejudice against people from outside our 'tribe' (=religion/race etc). I guess, in a shrinking world, natural selection is selecting for people who can do this the best... or at least I hope.

Answer 4

Thanks for clarifying the question. Clearly Natural Selection plays a part in changing thoughts and memes. A clear example is compare driving habits today in Saudi Arabia with those 30 years ago. Since then driving has gotten far safer as many who drove on the wrong side of the road, drove a hundred miles an hour through red lights etc. died off. Natural Selection affects everything, not just genes.

Answer 5

Interesting question.

One would assume that they would not be above natural selection if the thoughts led you to expire prior to reproduction...

If, for example, at the age of 8, you thought that it might be pleasant to tickle the furry Grizzly bear on the tummy.

Answer 6

Do we (humanity) live by the law of the jungle? Sometimes. That is why religion is such a good thing. It attempts to teach people self-control, sacrifice, and morality. If we all slipped into atheism, then we would by default become part of natural selection, nothing more or less than the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air. Our relationship with God is what sets us apart.

Answer 7

I am natural selection at work; taller, stronger, and better looking than the average human...

Answer 8

not sure what you mean?