I am wondering if, globally we are thinking more effectively and efficiently than people of the previous generations, is our problem solving ability increasing? Is groupthink dominating over independent individual thinking? Or perhaps- not?
2007-03-13 01:09:35 · 10 answers · asked by peter193710 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
always in evolution
2007-03-13 01:16:47 · answer #1 · answered by abd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the society.
generally cooperation tends to increase over time and therefore total output. ie as society becomes better organised more is produced per person.
problem solving ability increasing... perhaps not as an innate part of the brain but as more minds are able to work on one problem betetr solutions are obtained and scientific advance increases.
also look at "involution" in the rice paddies of indonesia. to accomodate a bigger population people worked the same land to get a better result, but the average amount went down... its a complex question.
to say we are "Evolving" smarter brains is perhaps incorrect. human evolution would not be likely to move in that direction since evolution focuses upon the need to survive. being smarter wont help you make babies so would probably not feature strongly, but perhaps
2007-03-13 08:14:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If Isaac Newton alive today, would he have spent his time pondering the laws of gravity or spent it watching The Sopranos? I think in a way the average individual is dumbing down, relying more on electronic brains (computers, calculators, TV) do our thinking than our own brain processes. How many of really spend time to just sit down and think about things?
But the irony is who is that creates these electronic marvels we so rely on but other humans. And when you look globally at the advances in things like medicine and science you can't help but think that intelligence, as a whole, has advanced astoundingly!
What a great question, what a hard one to answer. Thanks for making us think! :)
2007-03-13 08:34:48 · answer #3 · answered by A C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, everything that has life evolves. Our ideas, our bodies, our abilities. But I don't agree that groupthink dominates. I think electronics and science do.
2007-03-13 08:15:21 · answer #4 · answered by Dovey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question!!
It's a catch 22! On one hand, my kids are much more informed than I was at their age. On the other, it seems like people are sheep and follow the group and don't want to think.
Therefore, I think it's up to parents to teach their kids to think independently, and not to follow the group if they know the group isn't following the correct way!!
2007-03-13 08:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by Sarah S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution is the wrong word. Evolution is an extremely slow natural process, it doesn't happen within a few generations.
2007-03-13 08:21:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess that it is. But I would call it "de-evolution". Games and all sorts of entertainments have caused people to deviate from their abilities to interact.
Evolution is slow, maybe we are just steps before the cliff!!!
2007-03-13 08:21:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To me that is very unlikely. When most of the world's population believes in the supernatural, it is clear that we are not all that different from the people of the middle ages. We are just as violent, just as irrational, just as close-minded as any medieval peasant.
2007-03-13 08:23:24 · answer #8 · answered by langdonrjones 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the sheep thinking. We may have far greater knowledge than our predecessors, but what have we each done independently? They pioneered and invented. We use and relax.
2007-03-13 08:51:33 · answer #9 · answered by Baby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a never ending process.
evolution is every where
2007-03-13 08:14:21 · answer #10 · answered by sarayyu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋