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But we can keep evolving. By what mechanism? Evolution doesn't come about by sheer will.

crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
True. Motivation is only one component of our perceptual sets. We also have to leverage our emotions, beliefs, and actions to align them with the motivation of evolving. Edit: Anyone care to suggest a reason why this comment's being downvoted?
- crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
  Choosing the right actions is dependent on how you want to evolve. The right emotion is going to be joy. The only belief needed is that you can evolve in the way you want to. Also need to abandon beliefs to the contrary.
- lawrenceyan 9y ago
  Evolution as a word has a specific definition and usage that you are misusing. You're being downvoted because in your comment, you seem to be implying that humans can through the "leveraging of emotions, beliefs, and actions" achieve evolution which is patently false, unless of course you're talking about some kind of 'cultural' evolution. But then you should specify that in your comment, because that isn't the context in which evolution is normally used.
  - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
    My understanding of evolution is we can change the overall makeup of our species through our actions and choices, such as C-sections leading to women having narrower pelvises over time. This suggests collectively changing how we use our brains would lead to a society in which people who don't use their brains the same way could be less likely to thrive. Thus, they'd be selected against evolutionarily. What part of this conflicts with your understanding of evolution?
    - lawrenceyan 9y ago
      For evolution to happen naturally on genetic level, is a process that takes millions of years. It would take a concerted effort across thousands of generations of humans to see any meaningful change. The likelihood of this happening is nil to none. More realistic avenues of achieving something like what you talk about are likely through genetic engineering, nanotechnology integration, etc.
      - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
        Epigenetics has shown how susceptible we are chemically and that those genetic changes are hereditary. We also know brain chemistry can be impacted by changes in how we use the brain. I suspect we'll be able to use these mechanisms to intentionally evolve faster. How is it you're so very certain about how we work and the time scale evolution operates on when we're still discovering core mechanisms? You may want to consider challenging some of these beliefs you hold because it sounds like they're limiting what you consider possible, which can only serve to limit your own behavior. A growth-oriented mindset is more helpful for learning and if we want to learn collectively, I think we'll need a lot more people with that kind of mindset. If you don't believe it's possible to collectively organize to strategically change our thinking, will you be less inclined to orient your own toward the goal because "why bother?" I believe there are simple, desirable ways to change how we use our brains and they're effective enough to get immediate benefits from them. That's enough for me to believe they're globally marketable, which is what it'll take to collectively organize.

True. Motivation is only one component of our perceptual sets. We also have to leverage our emotions, beliefs, and actions to align them with the motivation of evolving. Edit: Anyone care to suggest a reason why this comment's being downvoted?

crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
Choosing the right actions is dependent on how you want to evolve. The right emotion is going to be joy. The only belief needed is that you can evolve in the way you want to. Also need to abandon beliefs to the contrary.
lawrenceyan 9y ago
Evolution as a word has a specific definition and usage that you are misusing. You're being downvoted because in your comment, you seem to be implying that humans can through the "leveraging of emotions, beliefs, and actions" achieve evolution which is patently false, unless of course you're talking about some kind of 'cultural' evolution. But then you should specify that in your comment, because that isn't the context in which evolution is normally used.
- crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
  My understanding of evolution is we can change the overall makeup of our species through our actions and choices, such as C-sections leading to women having narrower pelvises over time. This suggests collectively changing how we use our brains would lead to a society in which people who don't use their brains the same way could be less likely to thrive. Thus, they'd be selected against evolutionarily. What part of this conflicts with your understanding of evolution?
  - lawrenceyan 9y ago
    For evolution to happen naturally on genetic level, is a process that takes millions of years. It would take a concerted effort across thousands of generations of humans to see any meaningful change. The likelihood of this happening is nil to none. More realistic avenues of achieving something like what you talk about are likely through genetic engineering, nanotechnology integration, etc.
    - crawfordcomeaux 9y ago
      Epigenetics has shown how susceptible we are chemically and that those genetic changes are hereditary. We also know brain chemistry can be impacted by changes in how we use the brain. I suspect we'll be able to use these mechanisms to intentionally evolve faster. How is it you're so very certain about how we work and the time scale evolution operates on when we're still discovering core mechanisms? You may want to consider challenging some of these beliefs you hold because it sounds like they're limiting what you consider possible, which can only serve to limit your own behavior. A growth-oriented mindset is more helpful for learning and if we want to learn collectively, I think we'll need a lot more people with that kind of mindset. If you don't believe it's possible to collectively organize to strategically change our thinking, will you be less inclined to orient your own toward the goal because "why bother?" I believe there are simple, desirable ways to change how we use our brains and they're effective enough to get immediate benefits from them. That's enough for me to believe they're globally marketable, which is what it'll take to collectively organize.