The Paradox Of Our Minds

[Howie]

As I try to discuss this more in depth, I was hoping some members could add their two cent to help me along. evolve the post, if you will My basic thoughts are just that, thoughts. Philosophical in nature, I do believe them to have substenance and merit. The notion that our minds have evolved over generations and many different environments to make our mind a very complex sentient being. But what comes with this is a state of perplexity and uncertainty. Like polar opposites, a duality of processing. As much as I would like to stay away from a religious parallel, almost good and evil. Our minds are adaptable, ever changing. soaking up information (right or wrong) -( true or untrue) like a sponge. We can enjoy many things. The issue at hand is why does it seem this growth to be two ways? As we become more cultivated we have the ability to enjoy fine arts, appreciative a more sophisticated mind. We can say we are more scholarly? Mannerly, intellectual and intelligent. So as we grow, or for lack of a better word.. grow perversely, we can also see a higher level of corruption, desecration, or wrongdoing. Some claim that these traits have always been with us. And while they may have I argue that they have too, evolved into a more complex nature. Thoughts on the general topic. If you could please just put a + or - in front of your idea ( sex - love - hate etc.) and then explain. I.E. Or further the existing one. +Sex We have learned to communicate between the sexes better. We have learned much more about the differences and needs between males and females. More products and techniques have developed for the enjoyment of sex. -Sex[list][*]A more perverse attitude seems present. Fetishes. Would we have fetishes with out a complex ability to manifest things out of nothing? Pornography. How this industry has grown over the web, how children are being exploited and how our culture views sex and young people.

[Chaos]

Another trait of the Evolved Mind: +Thought Processes >As evolved beings we have the ability to think for ourselves and be for the most part independant >We can create great works of literature and be mathematical geniuses >We can wonder why we are here in the first place -Thought Processes >Becoming more independant has caused more isolation and therefore depression >As evolved beings we also grow more paranoid and while being more mentally developed, we are also more mentally imbalanced >Wondering why we are here can cause a feeling of pointlessness or uselessness which can also lead to more mental instability

[Howie]

Good point Chaos. The thought processes themselves!!~ Before they even get to any more elaborate schemes of thought, the process in itself has evolved. As our brain devolved, it seems like more things stem up from our conscious and conscience. Many things today would ride our conscience that in the past would never be thought of. there were more a do or die scenarios. Kill or be killed, survival of the fittest. Being a vegetarian would not have been an option nor would killing animals. In many cases people!

[Neruo]

I think what you call 'bad' or at least categorize as ' - ' is really just the manifestation of certain evolutionary traits. For example, indoctrination and groups-going-bad, like Nazis: Inside every man's (and woman's) mind there is a system if you will that makes us deliberately vonurable to indoctrination. It was some great advantages not to question the pack leader, not to question your parents. However in modern society, it can cause things we call 'bad'. Same with things like sexual fetishes, I am sure there is some primal reason behind that. Besides 'good' and 'bad' really aren't set values, unless (like you hinted) if you believe in some super-being (god) that set the rules. There are things that are results of or 'bad' minds that might clash with our moral ethics, but our moral ethics also came from the same place as the 'bad' things.

[Chaos]

Really, a belief in that "super being" or "god" is also an evolutionary manifestation of thought. The only beings to ever believe in god are humans. We are the only animals to create such delusional thoughts to form a basis of our existance on. The rest of the animals don't really care why they are here. They merely contribute to the predator/prey system that is set up on this earth. Though, as evolved primates, we really have no predators, b/c we have learned how to create the weapons to kill them. Well, we do have one predator actually, but that is ourselves. But, going back to my other point... When people were given the ability to be able to kill all other creatures, we began dominating the world. Species are dwindling down and disappearing off the face of the earth. We are consuming all of our natural resources, polluting the ozone layer, causing global warming, and setting ourselves up for our own distruction. As we evolved, we became our own worst enemy and are slowly destroying the very world we live on.

[Howie]

Really, a belief in that "super being" or "god" is also an evolutionary manifestation of thought. The only beings to ever believe in god are humans. We are the only animals to create such delusional thoughts to form a basis of our existance on. The rest of the animals don't really care why they are here. They merely contribute to the predator/prey system that is set up on this earth. Though, as evolved primates, we really have no predators, b/c we have learned how to create the weapons to kill them. Well, we do have one predator actually, but that is ourselves. But, going back to my other point... When people were given the ability to be able to kill all other creatures, we began dominating the world. Species are dwindling down and disappearing off the face of the earth. We are consuming all of our natural resources, polluting the ozone layer, causing global warming, and setting ourselves up for our own distruction. As we evolved, we became our own worst enemy and are slowly destroying the very world we live on.[/b] Yaa What she said. Neruo, I am not saying that many of these traits did not already exist, although I tend to believe some of them have evolved, but more so the fact that these already established traits have become warped. But I agree with you that it is environment. However my question is that is seems a paradox or pardoxa(?)to become an advanced species yet advance, as like Chaos said, " to be our own worst enemies."

[Neruo]

Neruo, I am not saying that many of these traits did not already exist, although I tend to believe some of them have evolved, but more so the fact that these already established traits have become warped. [/b] Oh yeah, just about everything we do is a result of an extremely warped instinct or traits. Why do people collect stamps or something? Because we like to hog stuff like food or something, in nature. And with evolved, did you mean evolved since mankind has lived in society? I don't think people from now differ that much from people before society.

[Howie]

Oh yeah, just about everything we do is a result of an extremely warped instinct or traits. Why do people collect stamps or something? Because we like to hog stuff like food or something, in nature. And with evolved, did you mean evolved since mankind has lived in society? I don't think people from now differ that much from people before society.[/b] I think the influx of new technology and new information along with the basic fundamental increase in sentence does make us more evolved than our ancestors. Many many of these traits have always existed I'm sure. But many of them I would think have come to be because of our ability of adapting to the environment.