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I have to disagree. I see the opposite problem. We think too highly of human intelligence, we should be more humble. Our most important source of intelligence

I have to disagree. I see the opposite problem. We think too highly of human intelligence, we should be more humble. Our most important source of intelligence is culture. We copy what we see others doing and that make us think that we are smart. It's the equivalent to see a Mathematical proof and think that we could also have done it. Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. That is why it's so hard to lose weight or study an uninteresting topic. It took humanity one hundred thousand years to realize that writing symbols allowed for a good communication system. And we did that by copy and error, a kind of evolutive process. Nobody sit down for hours until they invented writing. So, you see the glass half full, I see it half empty, I guess. But there is usefulness in seeing the glass half empty. As, it makes us more aware of our lakings and biases. This opinion, I formed by reading many other opinions adding one more step on the evolution of knowledge (maybe I'm wrong and it's just a dead end thou)

MaxBarraclough 6y ago
> Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. That is why it's so hard to lose weight Obesity is largely a function of culture.
- Hokusai 6y ago
  > Obesity is largely a function of culture. It relates to sugary and fatty food availability. So, yes it's cultural and can be improved by improved the system. But, its root is the incapability of human beings on avoiding the 'temptation' of unhealthy food. Asking people to stop eating too much and too bad does not work because our survival instincts tell us that to not eat when you can is stupid. So, changes in availability of unhealthy food are needed to improve the population health. Your point does not invalidate my point, but both describe our society.
  - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
    Sure, and I didn't mean to come across as obtuse, my point was that it's hard to find truly culture-insensitive aspects of the human experience. Even the basics like our tastes in food, and what traits we find physically attractive, are steered by culture. You're right of course that ultimately we're wired to enjoy sugar, fat, and salt, in a way that works against our health when they are available in effectively limitless quantities. I don't agree with Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. We allow perfect strangers into our homes to fix the plumbing. (Bruce Schneier wrote a great book about this kind of trust. [0]) A baby can learn to enjoy the company of a Malamute. Even our instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves, seems to be negotiable. > changes in availability of unhealthy food are needed to improve the population health. Agreed. [0] https://www.schneier.com/books/liars_and_outliers/ https://www.schneier.com/books/liars_and_outliers/
    - jon_elbrook 6y ago
      >I don't agree with Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. We allow perfect strangers into our homes to fix the plumbing. And we stay in the house to keep watch on them. >A baby can learn to enjoy the company of a Malamute. Even our instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves, You have to first establish that we have an instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves. And how that would work in humans that don't live where there are wolves for thousands of years.....
- barrkel 6y ago
  Hmmm. It's also a process of blind optimization on the part of companies that sell food. If they stumble into things that are addictive, that short-circuit the reward function in human appetite functions, they make more profit. Industrialization, marketing, high quality feedback mechanisms - they all add up to exploiting the human choice function. Yes, industrialization of food is a function of culture. It's a tough one to fight against though, because marketing is also a culture generator; it needs constant oppositional effort.
- jon_elbrook 6y ago
  If that is the case, then why are people in the same culture not equally fat?
  - Hokusai 6y ago
    Because it's not the only factor. Culture is an important factor but not the only one. Income is another factor. Richer people had access to better food and better medical advice that pressures then to eat healthier. Genetics are also another factor. Some people are better at accumulating fat than others. That other elements does not remove cultural influence. You eat what is available to you in your region, what your parents cook, etc. e.g. A country may tax sugary drinks to reduce availability and that reduces obesity in the country.
nineparts 6y ago
Culture is not a source of intelligence. Intelligence is something you are born with, just like height or skin color. I also do not understand who you refer to when you say "we." Well, I have a pretty good idea, but as opposed to "you," I prefer not to do mindless generalizations.

MaxBarraclough 6y ago

> Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. That is why it's so hard to lose weight Obesity is largely a function of culture.

Hokusai 6y ago
> Obesity is largely a function of culture. It relates to sugary and fatty food availability. So, yes it's cultural and can be improved by improved the system. But, its root is the incapability of human beings on avoiding the 'temptation' of unhealthy food. Asking people to stop eating too much and too bad does not work because our survival instincts tell us that to not eat when you can is stupid. So, changes in availability of unhealthy food are needed to improve the population health. Your point does not invalidate my point, but both describe our society.
- MaxBarraclough 6y ago
  Sure, and I didn't mean to come across as obtuse, my point was that it's hard to find truly culture-insensitive aspects of the human experience. Even the basics like our tastes in food, and what traits we find physically attractive, are steered by culture. You're right of course that ultimately we're wired to enjoy sugar, fat, and salt, in a way that works against our health when they are available in effectively limitless quantities. I don't agree with Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. We allow perfect strangers into our homes to fix the plumbing. (Bruce Schneier wrote a great book about this kind of trust. [0]) A baby can learn to enjoy the company of a Malamute. Even our instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves, seems to be negotiable. > changes in availability of unhealthy food are needed to improve the population health. Agreed. [0] https://www.schneier.com/books/liars_and_outliers/ https://www.schneier.com/books/liars_and_outliers/
  - jon_elbrook 6y ago
    >I don't agree with Most of our behaviour is based on instinct. We allow perfect strangers into our homes to fix the plumbing. And we stay in the house to keep watch on them. >A baby can learn to enjoy the company of a Malamute. Even our instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves, You have to first establish that we have an instinct to avoid being eaten by wolves. And how that would work in humans that don't live where there are wolves for thousands of years.....
barrkel 6y ago
Hmmm. It's also a process of blind optimization on the part of companies that sell food. If they stumble into things that are addictive, that short-circuit the reward function in human appetite functions, they make more profit. Industrialization, marketing, high quality feedback mechanisms - they all add up to exploiting the human choice function. Yes, industrialization of food is a function of culture. It's a tough one to fight against though, because marketing is also a culture generator; it needs constant oppositional effort.
jon_elbrook 6y ago
If that is the case, then why are people in the same culture not equally fat?
- Hokusai 6y ago
  Because it's not the only factor. Culture is an important factor but not the only one. Income is another factor. Richer people had access to better food and better medical advice that pressures then to eat healthier. Genetics are also another factor. Some people are better at accumulating fat than others. That other elements does not remove cultural influence. You eat what is available to you in your region, what your parents cook, etc. e.g. A country may tax sugary drinks to reduce availability and that reduces obesity in the country.

nineparts 6y ago

Culture is not a source of intelligence. Intelligence is something you are born with, just like height or skin color. I also do not understand who you refer to when you say "we." Well, I have a pretty good idea, but as opposed to "you," I prefer not to do mindless generalizations.