Post by qiangao on Jul 12, 2015 18:41:06 GMT
1.) The theory of evolution is an extremely important factor in how human beings behave. According to the video “Evolution Explained in Four Minutes,” the basis of the human will to survive is self-preservation, or the will to pass along our genes to offspring. If evolution is all about passing along our genes, then how does it play into our behavior as humans? We know that evolution plays a huge part in humans physically, but the idea that it also plays a huge part in our behavior is not a theory that is always accepted. There are people who think that human behavior is a result of our environment. However, in The DNA of Consciousness, Donald R. Griffin states, “Many animals adapt their behavior to the challenges they face either under natural conditions or in laboratory experiments. This has persuaded many scientists that some sort of cognition must be required to orchestrate such versatile behavior” (Griffin p. 29). Griffin (like other scientists) believes that human behavior is heavily attributed to evolution. One thing that proves this point is to look at identical twins. If identical twins grow up in the same household and had the exact life experiences happen, the twins would still have two different personalities; this is because our personality and behavior are products not only of our environment, but also our genetics. In ancient hunter-gatherer societies men hunted while women stayed home. This was typically because men were bigger and stronger. However, while men do not usually hunt for food today, the behavior of men being the “breadwinner” and women staying home to rear children is still very strong in our society.
2.) A question that evolutionary science cannot explain is, “Why are some people very generous and philanthropic?” Giving away our possessions and wealth has no benefit to us. Evolutionary speaking, humans are innately selfish. Evolution says that the whole reason we keep living is to reproduce. In the “Evolutionary Imperative: To Be or Not To Be”, the narrator discusses how most people choose to live until they have an offspring. This self-preservation is sort of a selfish way to live on forever. If we are innately selfish, then the art of philanthropy would be dead was it not a behavior that was adopted socially or based instead on our environment. Another thing that I don’t think evolution can answer is why some people are adamantly against having children. I know a few people who are adults who are financially stable and in stable relationships, but they actively avoid having children their whole lives. Since there are many people who choose to be childfree it can be said that it is not an uncommon behavior to practice birth control. Evolutionarily, this behavior makes no sense. The human behavior of avoiding procreation is one that I do not think can be explained biologically, I think it has to be a learned or environmental behavior and choice. In The DNA of Consciousness, the author writes, “the discovery is important because it provides critical evidence of the way that animals evolve new features to improve their chances of reproductive success and survival” (Diem-Lane p. 21). If our biological need and desire is to procreate and pass on our genes, then the behavior of the millions of people who choose not to have children cannot possibly be explained by genetics.
2.) A question that evolutionary science cannot explain is, “Why are some people very generous and philanthropic?” Giving away our possessions and wealth has no benefit to us. Evolutionary speaking, humans are innately selfish. Evolution says that the whole reason we keep living is to reproduce. In the “Evolutionary Imperative: To Be or Not To Be”, the narrator discusses how most people choose to live until they have an offspring. This self-preservation is sort of a selfish way to live on forever. If we are innately selfish, then the art of philanthropy would be dead was it not a behavior that was adopted socially or based instead on our environment. Another thing that I don’t think evolution can answer is why some people are adamantly against having children. I know a few people who are adults who are financially stable and in stable relationships, but they actively avoid having children their whole lives. Since there are many people who choose to be childfree it can be said that it is not an uncommon behavior to practice birth control. Evolutionarily, this behavior makes no sense. The human behavior of avoiding procreation is one that I do not think can be explained biologically, I think it has to be a learned or environmental behavior and choice. In The DNA of Consciousness, the author writes, “the discovery is important because it provides critical evidence of the way that animals evolve new features to improve their chances of reproductive success and survival” (Diem-Lane p. 21). If our biological need and desire is to procreate and pass on our genes, then the behavior of the millions of people who choose not to have children cannot possibly be explained by genetics.
