Evolution and technology. Have we hit a plateau?

[OutOnTheVeranda]

There is obviously more to love than the chemical reactions of neurons.

Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on what that something more might be, if it's so obvious?

 

[TruthSpeaker1]

Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on what that something more might be, if it's so obvious?

Well to start off it isn't just "merely a chemical reaction which results in addiction from pleasure." It is a evolutionary trait that increases a species' rate of survival.

Love is also considered a basic human need. According to Maslow's heirarchy of needs, humans have a need to give love and to be loved. They have a need to be needed and to feel like they belong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiarchy_of_Needs

As far as speaking on a non-scientific viewpoint, love is groovy man . There are countless poems, songs, books, movies, shows, etc decidated to finding love and keeping love. Some of the happiest people I know are in love, and the happiest memories I have are when I was in love. It is truly a undescribable feeling, I feel sorry for whoever looks at love from a purely biological standpoint.

Call me stupid or ignorant, I'd rather be both than not feel love.

 

[qwedsa]

It is a evolutionary trait that increases a species' rate of survival.

Love is also considered a basic human need. According to Maslow's heirarchy of needs, humans have a need to give love and to be loved. They have a need to be needed and to feel like they belong.

it depends on what level you are approaching it from

in the physical sense, love is merely a chemical reaction

in an evolutionary sense, it is a trait taht increases a species rate of survival

in a psychological sense, it is a need

those latter two levels of reality, however, can be broken down to physical interactions between chemicals...

I feel sorry for whoever looks at love from a purely biological standpoint.

one can look at something from a detached and scientific viewpoint and at the same when he experiences it himself he experiences it as you do; from a subjective viewpoint he can still enjoy all of its subjective aspects

edit: changed around the wording abit. im really tired, it probly still looks wierd

 

[redeemer]

Well to start off it isn't just "merely a chemical reaction which results in addiction from pleasure." It is a evolutionary trait that increases a species' rate of survival.

Why can't a chemical reaction result in an evolutionary trait that increases a species' rate of survival? Why is a spiritual force necessary?

Love is also considered a basic human need. According to Maslow's heirarchy of needs, humans have a need to give love and to be loved. They have a need to be needed and to feel like they belong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heiarchy_of_Needs

As far as speaking on a non-scientific viewpoint, love is groovy man . There are countless poems, songs, books, movies, shows, etc decidated to finding love and keeping love. Some of the happiest people I know are in love, and the happiest memories I have are when I was in love.

Again, how does this exclude the possibility that love is a chemical reaction taking place in the brain?

It is truly a undescribable feeling, I feel sorry for whoever looks at love from a purely biological standpoint.

How come? What is it about knowing the inner workings of "love" that makes it less pleasuarble?

 

[TruthSpeaker1]

Why can't a chemical reaction result in an evolutionary trait that increases a species' rate of survival? Why is a spiritual force necessary?

I never said it was necessary. I didn't even mention the word spiritual in my last post.

Again, how does this exclude the possibility that love is a chemical reaction taking place in the brain?

It doesn't, I'm saying it is more than just chemical reactions. As in love is a need (Maslow) and love is a trait that helps our survival rate.

those latter two levels of reality, however, can be broken down to physical interactions between chemicals...

Yes, but then I can state that the absence of love can be broken down to mere chemical reactions.

No love > less physical arousal (positive emotions) > depressed state > lower levels of dopamine produced.

How come? What is it about knowing the inner workings of "love" that makes it less pleasuarble?

When did I say that understanding the science behind love is a bad thing? I stated that I believe that love should not be soley looked upon as a biological process.

"I feel sorry for whoever looks at love from a purely biological standpoint."

 

[qwedsa]

all you said truthspeaker was that love is not just a chemical reaction

the same thing can be said of anything

but anything can basically be broken down to chemical reactions, and the only "more" there is to it, has to do with our subjective perception of it

 

[bZoP]

I just recently saw the movie and have been thinking about the exact same thing. In the movie though the mans point was that evolution is speeding up so fast that eventually man will see his own evolution in his lifetime.

 

[Yossarian_is_sane]

I just recently saw the movie and have been thinking about the exact same thing. In the movie though the mans point was that evolution is speeding up so fast that eventually man will see his own evolution in his lifetime.

Although under the natual selection theory of evolution this would not seem possible. I think if that ever comes to pass it will be the result of externally sourced improvements (biotechnology and the like) rather than an actual 'evolution' of the man.

Anyway I think that we have hit a evolutionary plateau, even though such things are measured in times to which our age of technology is infintestimally small, for the reason that mental/physical/financial superiority do not garuntee the chance to pass on one's genes. As a previous poster pointed out, Bill gates only has 3 children when he could provide for many more. Most developed nations (with better education systems) have a very low birth rate when compared to developing nations. This is not nessecarily a comment on the intelligence of people in developing nations. However I would bet that on average, your garbage man/council worker has significantly more children than your neuroscientist or you physicist or even your high-flying executive.

If the class structure in developed societies remains based on sucess and wealth, then evolution through the use of biotechnology could be denied to the 'lower classes' and combined with the predisposition of intelligent people to partner each other, could eventually lead to a 'splitting' of the human race. But i'm not a sociologist.

 

[complexPHILOSOPHY]

The Singularity.

 

[Manifespo]

In hindsight this will seem like an asymptote.