HUMAN OR STILL ANIMAL April 10, 2008
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“Free Will” is our basic human right to make a decision one way or the other BUT the animal (genetic & hormones) and human influences (cultural, religious, political, etc) that are ingrained in our psyche pretty much decide the way we will think and act. Most people will live within the constraints of their religion and society but some will not and risk suffering the consequences what ever they may be (great or small). |
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How much of a “free will” do people really have? Are we free to make decisions without being influenced by outside or physical and mental constraints? We may have a limited “free will” but we also have all these animal instincts and inherited genes, along with sex hormones surging through our body that makes us act the way we do. |
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In addition to this we have the storytellers constantly feeding us information, some good and some bad. The stories we hear throughout our life, from the time we learn the words and language of our parents and culture to the end of our existence we our constantly being bombarded by things we hear or see. |
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The culture we grow up in, listening to our parents, our friends, peers, teachers, government, authors, the media, songwriters, neighbors, rabbis, priests, mullahs, philosophers, etc., all become a part of our self. All these influences create the overall path which we follow throughout our lives. |
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On a personal basis each of us is unique - no one has exactly the same influences or genes acting on our psyche - whether it is mental or physical we are constantly being influenced by the physical forces within us or the forces that surround us. |
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Animals are not affected by these stories, we could talk all day long to our pets and they really wouldn’t be emotionally effected one way or the other. |
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Examples of the basic animal concerns are: |
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* Physical nutrition - The constant need to obtain nutrition to satisfy their hunger. Where is their next meal or water hole? |
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* Domination - to be dominant over their territory - they (the wolves, etc.) mark off the boundaries with sprits of urine. |
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* Procreation - The need to reproduce. Males must always either have to defend their dominant position in their group or get up the courage to fight the dominant male so that they will be in a position to mate with the females. |
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* Survival - The need to defend themselves and survive in their environment. Animal instincts must always be on the alert for danger. |
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Base on above quoted concerns we can make introspection for our life. |
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