How did one species, Homo sapiens, come to have such extraordinary perspectives on their own lives?

Question

The Dude, actually, this question was inspired by something I just read in Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett. :o)

The Dude, I like it very much, but I've only read 36 pages so far. :o) I just got it today. It was a gift from someone!

Answer 1

Well, according to scientists and atheists, evolution. According to Christians, God.

Answer 2

You're talking as if there was never any Beliefs before the Bible. If you believe that Homo sapiens is a species about 200 k yrs old, it does not matter. Humans have had some form of Religion since they've stood upright, from Nature Worship, or Ancestors. Even since People have had the Ability to think "Who am I, and where did I come from", there has always been some form of Religion to give answers.

Answer 3

There is no simple answer to this question. I would say some crisis occurred, perhaps a lightning bolt, a fire (there are many fire mythologies), or something triggering an intense feeling of protectiveness or helplessness.

There was a recent episode on the Nat.Geo. Channel about dog's smiles which explored the emotions of various animals. It was quite interesting. Just because we have language, that doesn't mean the rest of the mammals are without awareness of death and having memories of a loved one who passed on.

I would surmise, however, that this extraordinary perspective of which you speak developed as we developed language, and sped up exponentially when the written language erupted into society as a whole.

I mean, think of it. I'm communicating with you, and all you see really, are pixels on a screen of light. It's amazing.

Answer 4

The human brain has three parts that have developed through evolution. The R-Complex part of the brain, often refered to as the reptile brain. The Limbic System which controls emotion and some basic functions like flight or fight. The Neocortex which contols higher functions such as reasoning and speach.

Answer 5

Well, since I'm a believer in God my answer would be that we were selected to evolve while every other species on this planet (and there are LOTS and LOTS of species) was...obviously....not.

I raised a similar point once...asking why every planet is round and some aren't triangle or squarish? People thought I was nuts. lol

Answer 6

I don't really know, but there's a book on this by Daniel Dennett (one of them atheist type thinkers). I think he wrote a handful of books on the topic, actually:

http://www.amazon.com/Consciousness-Explained-Penguin-Science-Dennett/dp/0140128670/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196834448&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.com/Kinds-Minds-Towards-Understanding-Consciousness/dp/0465073514/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196834448&sr=1-8
(Among others?)

I would summarize it for you, but I haven't read them. I know he bases it on evolutionary imperatives.

EDIT: Oh, I was reading Breaking the Spell but I got distracted by other books I had on the list to read... If only I spent less time asking ridiculous questions and more time reading non-ridiculous books. How do you like Breaking the Spell?

Answer 7

A lot of them dont! Insight can be available but I can think of a lot of humans I've met who were little more than genius chimps with speech.

Humans may have self awareness but I've known plenty of animals who were very aware of themselves as being distinct separate individuals!

Answer 8

the ability to think abstractly. this came from actually throwing rocks and using other tools that had to be shot or thrown and since to hit a target you have to do certain abstract mathematical thinking it affected the brain. we went through many changes in the brain.

Answer 9

With evolution came reason, thus giving us the ability to think farther than most primates.

Answer 10

I'l like to see an Ape or Monkey try to answer that one!