can the evolutionary origin and development of human consciousness be compared?

Question

to the emergence and development of consciousness in an individual's life? in what ways and to what extent can analogies be drawn between histories of groups (species) and individuals belonging to those groups? to what extent do we as a species resemble the individual?

this is not homework and i am not a student - these questions have held my interest since discovery of haeckel's "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny", which of course was widely refuted scientifically - also study of jung's collective unconscious and ideas of the self and god gleaned from eastern philosophy

Answer 1

There is a concept used in business and other environments that shows common drivers to human development. It is called Mazlo's Hierarchy of Needs. When you look at the pyramid, it is essentially a rough "map" of evolution for an individual, showing evolution from primitive to enlightened. Clearly, the ability to advance through this pyramid is conditional on one's social and physical environment. Groups (ethnic, national, familial, professional) more nurturing to this pyramid would clearly foster greater individual evolution. More enlightened individuals in the group, in return, raise the environmental richnes of thier group. Check out the link.

Answer 2

Yes, certainly in terms of the early stages they can be compared. At some part after birth an infant develops consciousness just as at some point the monkey's did.

Have you heard of the word paradym. This is basically patterns of behaviour or thought that a group has, that an individual will tend to follow for whatever reason- conditioning whatever.

You can't draw any general analogy between an individual human and the species. Sure one person might exemplify a species specific trait. But every single human thinks differently. Every single one of us. We only make objective standards to help us deal with law and order etc But even then it is constructed by individuals with individual ideas.

This is less so in other species. It is probably true that one ant 'thinks' much like another, hence any one ant in a colony exemplifies the colony as a whole apart from the queen.

We as a species do not resemble the individual- it would make a nonsense of the word individual if we did. As above

Answer 3

“Why do we cross our fingers during turbulence, even the most atheistic among us?” This question seems very common to me. It is a symbol of "Hope." Now if the end of the world, according to the Bible were to happen right now, Do you know how many people would convert AT THE LAST SECOND? How many would actually...Repent? Now, as far as R. Dawkins goes, the basic basis of his "Philosophy" is 1) Leave God. 2) Do whatever you want. And for 3 guys trying to "Disprove God." Notice how they have "Separated" from the Philosophers and Theologians, and then calling Christianity, a "Religious Behavior." If you can remember, when our Country was Racist, White Scientists and Scholars were trying to say that the Black man was incapable of doing the things they could do. So this effect is being used for their purpose to "Refute." And, to me, Neo-Athiest sound like "Nazi"

Answer 4

Read an interesting article, "Darwin's God," in last Sunday's (the March 4, 2007 issue) of The New York Times Magazine. Within it, I think, is encoompassed some of the latest thinking, pro and con, on your question.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04evolution.t.html?ref=magazine

Answer 5

I can see the story in Genesis as the story of the emergence of human consciousness, like from an animal-awareness to a self-awareness, like the ability to reflect, to second-guessing ourselves, judging ourselves, separating god from man, tossing us out of the bliss of ignorance into the knowledge of good and evil. like when Adam started naming all the animals. its like he was labeling everything, creating an abstract map of reality, which was a blessing and a curse. its like the evolution of our brains.

Answer 6

This sounds suspicioously like homework.