| ▲ | logicchains 4 hours ago |
| >Our modern society has not progressed at all from any of these base instincts, and in some cases & applications we have gotten worse. Not at all surprising given that base instincts come from genetics and genes take tens to hundreds of thousands of years to change significantly. |
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| ▲ | consumer451 3 hours ago | parent | next [-] |
| Agreed. My theory about our "great filter" event is that our technological advancement proceeds so much faster than our genetics, and that will be our ruin. To put in plain terms, we keep inventing far better "spears" (including kinetic, bio, and chemical) that allow one to kill many, while still behaving like cavemen. |
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| ▲ | orwin 2 hours ago | parent | next [-] | | In my opinion,it is more about culture than it is genetics, although I do think genetics are modified by culture in the long term. | | |
| ▲ | consumer451 2 hours ago | parent | next [-] | | Possibly, but look at modern times. It takes years to build social constructs that might guide us towards cooperation and non-violence. Yet, those can be overturned in an instant by a slick turn of phrase that appeals to our base instincts/caveman brain, which i believe we all have. | |
| ▲ | setopt 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-] | | > I do think genetics are modified by culture in the long term. For example, "self-domestication" by executing or ostracizing individuals that don’t fit into the culture. | | | |
| ▲ | podocarp an hour ago | parent | prev [-] | | They are only modified if there is some form of selection though, like for example some people say of the Dutch and their height. In modern times it is more likely that culture and education augments genetics such that your violent tendencies are repressed, you are brought up leading a soft and comfortable life, taught to be polite and kind, etc. Contrast to maybe someone brought up in a warzone or some other place. I mean post apocalyptic shows like the walking dead express this quite well (at least the first few seasons) where once society falls it's just a free for all and back to our roots again. | | |
| ▲ | orwin 15 minutes ago | parent [-] | | Yeah, i'm pretty sure observational studies after natural disasters (those who followed up Katerina especially) showed that it wasn't really the case. Yes, you have looters everywhere (Even in Japan), but most people help their neighbours (or even strangers if those looks non-threatening). Only when you have a central authority figure present and a lot of people you see riot and aggression, hence the reason why in most countries that need help, aid distribution is as decentralized as possible nowadays (centralized distribution is a _really_ good way of having people killed in the mass anyway). |
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| ▲ | conartist6 an hour ago | parent | prev [-] | | Is it more or less scary of the filter event was the creation of plate tectonics and the phosphorous cycle? |
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| ▲ | Balinares 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-] |
| You are however under no obligation to grant your instincts unrestricted access to the pilot seat. |
