week three

1. Why is the theory of evolution so important in understanding how human beings behave?


Starting with the effect of theory of evolution on our physical appearance, we will then link it to the influence on human beings behave. Natural selection is the key of evolution. The variation of DNA provides the chances for species to survive different kind of environment. However, as it says, "evolution by natural selection isn't so much about “fittest” or “strongest” or “best,” but rather as contingently successful"( The DNA of consciousness 11). Therefore, it is more about the odds instead of ability. Every new born creature has proved that its "unique genome has some fundamental traits that have led to" the birth(The DNA of consciousness 14). The success of the genome concerns more about the traits rather than "whether something is a defined species or not" (The DNA of consciousness 15). The physical existence of DNA gives us the chance to trace back our evolution. However, it also shows the evolution of our consciousness. Again, natural selection is about whether we can survive long enough to pass our genome to our offspring. A consciousness where we can image different scenario with any physical harm and real consequence enables us to think of a series of action and pick the one will probably help us the most. In other words, consciousness let us be ahead of the game and have a better chance to survive chance contingencies. However, a mistaken simulation will also result in death. Here comes our second order consciousness. "Second nature is our ability to absorb such information and have the wherewithal to reconstruct models of varying probabilities about what this information means" (The DNA of consciousness 30). This not only allows us to simulate the reality, but also let us to analyze the situation. It "allow for better odds in our ultimate reactions to whatever stimuli or information we encounter" (The DNA of consciousness 30). That is saying our behave depends on what our simulations are and which option we choose to act on. An understanding of the evolution of our consciousness and awareness will, therefore, help us to understand human beings behave.





2. Which questions do you think evolutionary theory cannot answer?


Evolutionary theory explains why we look the way we do and why we think the way we do, but it cannot answer the mastery on our motivation. Even though we now have an understanding of the first and second order of consciousness and how they work together for the sake of our survival. But we have little understanding why we have our emotions. And how our consciousness is generated from the physical component of our brains. If we consider consciousness "as a virtual simulator with an amplified probability feedback loop" (The DNA of consciousness 41). Then why do we have our different kind of feelings? Do they also play a role in our evolution? Are they necessary for our survival? Are we really " a bundle of neurons and nerve endings tied to together in a huge neural complex that gives rises to consciousness" (The DNA of consciousness 41)? If there is no soul, why do we have such different personality from each other? How would we understand the word "self"?

3 hours ago Gajinda Fonseka said:

Week 3, Question 1:

Firstly, this is because the 'programming' of humans is directly related to human behavior and theory of evolution is necessary to understand the 'programming'. You could say that by applying the theory of evolution to humans we can understand human behavior because it is the 'key' to our genetic codes which contain the instructions (and are therefore the answer) for our behavior. Secondly it is because our current behaviors are the result of countless mistakes, corrections, adaptations and successes ('Natural Selection automatically conserves whatever has worked up to now' - The Magic of Evolution) . Hence, to understand our current behaviors, it is first necessary to analyze and understand what went into creating these behaviors and the theory of evolution is one of the, if not the only, guide to doing so. By following the theory of evolution, we can accurately interpret past influences and responses and from that draw a correct explanation for human behavior that would help the human race come into their full potential and further progress themselves.

Week 3, Question 2:

There are many questions that I do not think the theory of evolution cannot answer. For instance, it wold be unlikely that the theory of evolution can answer question that are being created just now. For instance, metaphysical concepts like 'What is Time?' which cannot be analyzed using the principles of the theory of evolution. It is arguable, of course, that the theory of evolution is is directly related to the passage of time and the changes that occur during that passage but it is notable that one can only observe, find and record the effects of time and not its nature or cause(s) if indeed it has one (or several). The theory of evolution also cannot answer questions about origin. 'What is the origin of life?' is good example of this. The theory of evolution is based on observed facts and confirmed conclusions which are based on the certainty of facts. It cannot therefore answer questions about what came before such facts even existed.

I found it very interesting that the writer use an analogy of programming to describe the human behavior. My understanding of this response is that our behavior is determined by the genome and these genome are the result from the past. I think I can look at it in this way. If we want to study an historical architecture, we need to first understand when it was built and learn about the history of that period so that we can understand why it was presented in this way. In order to understand our behavior, we need to look back to our history, which is theory of evolution. By learning how natural selection impact on our genome, we can have a better idea how these genome further determine our behavior.