According to natural selection the one who is least adapting to the environment would die out. We fear heights naturally because those that did not have died out. We fear darkness naturally because those who lived in the night died out due to creatures and no longer exists. Can anyone explain to me the evolution of our consciousness? techically we did not need a conscious to survival it was not needed for our survival if we were more cold hearted and less kind and nice we would have done better in survival so why does people exist with conscious today? Monkeys obvisiously lack a conscious they cannot feel pity for one another nor give to the poor/ starving monkeys. Monkeys cannot feel love but sex cravings. So why did these emotions evolve as well? They were certainlly not needed for survival? Doesn't it seem more likely God gave us our human conscious?
2007-03-01 14:57:49 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I would argue that socialization was a survival mechanism and meant getting along better with your fellow clan members. Those that didn't get along, ie, the ones that were cold hearted didn't survive for very long. Hunting big woolly mammoths meant cooperation.among the group.
2007-03-01 15:21:22 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First I'll start with a few humorous comments, just for fun, and to point out some of the flaws in your argument, then provide my real answer.
We need consciousness. If we weren't conscious, we'd all be human vegetables and wouldn't be able to reproduce. Conscious is the state of being where we actually perceive what is around us and are able to interact with it.
Perhaps you meant 'conscience.' I suggest you walk into the forest between a bear and her cubs if you wish to see that animals have some feelings of love and 'conscience.' Sadly, you won't be able to return your findings to us.
If God gave us a conscience, he sure messed up, because it seems to be different for every person on the planet.
"if we were more cold hearted and less kind and nice we would have done better in survival." I am sure your God appreciates that you just told Him that his invention is inhibiting our survival.
Sex for pleasure isn't necessary for our survival, but we still have lust. Was that God, too? Or Satan? The Church condemns lustfull affairs, so I'm assuming God didn't do it. So couldn't conscience come from some other source? Don't immediately assume it was God.
Humans did not evolve from monkeys. Nor apes. There is a common ancestor before man, monkeys, or apes ever came about. It's like they are our distant cousins, not our parents.
Okay, okay. Real answer. Evolution, so far as I know, is a physical change. Eventually, it is expected that humans will evolve to a point where the appendix is no longer included with our bodies...that we won't be born with one, because it no longer serves its purpose. Physical change. The fear, emotions, and conscience you describe are not physical. You can't hold a 'love' or a 'good' in your hand. They are concepts thought up and not empirically real. Our brains are physical. They increased in size from ancestors, allowing us to develop new ideas and non-emperical thoughts. We learned by watching others, and hence developed fears by watching Thag jump from a cliff only to die. You seem to be using 'Evolution'--the Theory--with 'evolution'--the process of something getting better and better with age--interchangeably. But the former pertains to physical changes, while the latter can just as easily be non-empirical.
2007-03-02 00:46:22 · answer #2 · answered by fuzzinutzz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not understandgin some aspect of human biology is hardly a reason to bring god into the mix. No, it makes no sense at all to posit a supernatural being to explain human consciousness. The simple fact is that we don't know. For some reason our self-awareness increased to the point that it did. It is a continuum, chimps can recognize themselves very quickly in a mirror, "lower" primates cannot. Maybe someday we'll have a better idea dn anyone depending on god for the answer will feel mighty silly.
2007-03-02 00:14:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to be more focused on the topic - take a few science classes.
I'll give you one clue: thinking that other animals like monkeys, or dogs, or even mice don't have emotions or an awareness of themselves is deeply and sadly wrong.
One tip: wake up tomorrow and walk outside. Now don't judge or fall into your routine. Really think about how the tree got that way, or the grass, or your dog, or the birds singing in the trees, or the mosquito trying to find food.
Don't blame this on a god - it's just the beauty of our universe.
2007-03-01 23:09:00 · answer #4 · answered by lip11 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, consciousness is vital for human survival. Humans live by thinking and building, not by absorbing sunlight or running down gazzel. Monkeys do have a limited conciousness, as do other animals. What we have is just a more complex version of what they have.
2007-03-01 23:36:19 · answer #5 · answered by humorist_4_u 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals have feelings and emotions. They just let go of their children early in life because of their survival needs.
Human emotions, over extended sometimes, are not as pure as animals', because having expectations from other people dampen the true meaning of our love.
2007-03-02 02:42:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We'll probably never know the mysteries behind the human conscious. It may be that we do not NEED it for survival, but it does not hinder our survival so we kept it.
2007-03-01 23:07:03 · answer #7 · answered by thelivingdaylights16 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello!
Monkeys do have emotions and consciences.
Studies have been done on monkeys showing their love and respect for one another.
I disagree with your statements based on this alone.
2007-03-01 23:07:52 · answer #8 · answered by diannegoodwin@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a phucking idiot.
2007-03-01 23:06:46 · answer #9 · answered by ahab 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋