RE: The biological goal of the human mind

-----Original Message-----

Behalf Of Ricardo Duchesne

>Jay,  We can agree that these sciences have gone a long way in
>explaining human behavior, without assuming that  genes
>determine all our basic dispositions, feelings, and ideas. Except for
>stating the obvious that our behavior is affected by our genes, none of
>the passages you list below is a convincing explanation in favor of
>genetic determinism, that genes provide the key to what we are as humans.

I hope my other response clarified the specific chemical mechanism.  The
term "genetic determinism" is not really appropriate except with respect to
physical characteristics.  For example, we are "genetically determined" not
to fly without prosthetics because we do not have the genes for wings.

I think of human behavior as a layer of socially idiosyncratic behavior
superimposed upon a chemical soup of "genetic propensities".  The basic
drives (sex, aggression, food, power, novelty, etc.) come from the genes,
but how those drives are acted out depends upon society.

Scientists assume that behavior is genetic if exists in all societies.
Certainly if that behavior is discovered in other species too. Take, for
example, "lying".  Lying is critical to survival in the animal world.
Snakes puff themselves up to look larger, squids squirt ink, our president
doesn't inhale.  Lying is genetic in (most? or all?) animals.

For the Third Chimpanzee (AKA Homo sapiens), lying is extremely important
for reproductive success. If you have ever sucked-in your gut when a pretty
girl walked by, then you have followed ancient, genetic algorithms.

We chimps have developed into the best liars in the animal kingdom.  By
convincing ourselves of our own lies, we make our lies to others far more
effective.  In business, love, and politics "sincerity" is everything.  If
you can fake that, you've got it made.

Is a fact that the ancestors of everyone alive today followed the biological
goal of their mind: they managed to breed before they died.  No one likes to
be reduced to a slab of meat, but in truth, we are just acting-out ancient
algorithms encoded in our genes that managed to get our ancestors laid.

Jay -- www.dieoff.com