NationStates Jolt Archive

I was reading THe Science of Discworld a while ago (it's a good book if you want to get the basics of things like particle physics, or just a laugh) and i ran across a rather good point in a section about evolution

Man is too obsessed with beginnings and becomings.

We want to be able to define everything, which means knowing how it started. this means that the three big nationstated debates, God, Abortion and Evolution, are all pretty much buggered as all three rely on different points of origin.

When and how did the universe begin? we don't know

When does a foetus become human? it doesn't! how? the human qualities slowly build up. this means it's hard to put a finger on when it is or isn't allowable to have an abortion. That way we have to go for a good guess, which means nobody is 100% happy

The same with evolution. We can't say exactly when man and ape branched off from their common apeman ancestor. same problem - when did man evolve? we dunno.

Please don't use any of what i've said as ammo in a pro-choice/life flamewar.

oh, forget it. i can see this is going to turn into a flamewar about one of the three things above, so i'll stay and watch. human-on-human bloodsports are fun!

We almost never do it?

cheeseburger

Humans tend to complicate too much. Too much thinking can leade to confusion, and even more questions. It's a circle instead of a straight line to evolution.

I do my best thinking when I'm dancing naked in the meadows by the light of the full moon. :)

Yes, I much prefer cat thinking...just sleep, lick yourself, eat, sleep, lick yourself again, piss in the neighbours bushes, sleep, eat a spider...so much simpler.

I do my best thinking when I'm dancing naked in the meadows by the light of the full moon. :)

Do you cosplay as a mustard covered hotdog while you're at it? =p

Though one of the things that makes us different than other animals who care nothing more than making sure they have a meal is that we are innovative. Innovation means we look to the future to make things better or easier. In the process, we have to see what has done before us. So, if science is the quest of understanding, it makes sense that we would follow the same innovative spirit.

The same with evolution. We can't say exactly when man and ape branched off from their common apeman ancestor. same problem - when did man evolve? we dunno.


Untrue, the fossil record of human ancestory is complete and detailed. We know how Homo Sapiens came into existence and dominated the planet (wiping out our Neandertal competitors). To say that "we don't know" how modern man arose is ignorance of the recent advances of science.

i think the meaning we apply to the past and the future helps us to identify meaning in the present. Our understanding the past and the future helps us to act consciously in the present.

Meaning is relative and subjective, so everyone makes different meanings (based on their assumptions about 'beginnings and endings') and acts differently.

but, we also explore things collectively and everyone benifits from this exploration. our shared assumptions are what we build communication on.

i think

Do you cosplay as a mustard covered hotdog while you're at it? =p

Have you been spying on me?!? :eek:

My opinion on the three:
Religion is a questionable subject with most people, it is used too much as a scapegoat for getting your way yet I do believe in religion.... just my own and not others.
Abortion is ok in one case only: Victims of rape
Evolution is a questionable subject and I believe that in the case of humanity that Evolution did not happen.. that means we did not evolve from curious george.

These are my opinions and these are my beliefs I am not saying they are anyone else's and all I ask is that you all accept them as my beliefs and not start flaming and poking holes in them because I am not you and I don't want to be you. I am an individual and therefore I have right to opinion and belief through the constitution of my country.

We want to be able to define everything, which means knowing how it started. this means that the three big nationstated debates, God, Abortion and Evolution, are all pretty much buggered as all three rely on different points of origin.
I argue in favour of the infinite universe and continuity of life. *go me*

My problem is with humans thinking they're thinking when they're only thinking of thinking or thinking not at all, I think.

Do you cosplay as a mustard covered hotdog while you're at it? =p

he SAID he'd be naked while oding it, so maybe just the mustard. hotdog suit does not allow mother nature to caress your WEEN!

Amestria']Untrue, the fossil record of human ancestory is complete and detailed. We know how Homo Sapiens came into existence and dominated the planet (wiping out our Neandertal competitors). To say that "we don't know" how modern man arose is ignorance of the recent advances of science.

K.

Yes, I much prefer cat thinking...just sleep, lick yourself, eat, sleep, lick yourself again, piss in the neighbours bushes, sleep, eat a spider...so much simpler.
I agree, but I think maybe dog thinking is better (replace eat a spider with chase a squirrel) at least that way you get exercise.

Yes, I much prefer cat thinking...just sleep, lick yourself, eat, sleep, lick yourself again, piss in the neighbours bushes, sleep, eat a spider...so much simpler.

Well, my cats seem to have the thought process of "wake up, get a massage, have breakfast, take a nap, get a massage, play some sports, take a nap get a massage, have some drugs, go to sleep..."

Either way, Cat's know how to live. We totally evolved from the wrong species.

I agree, but I think maybe dog thinking is better (replace eat a spider with chase a squirrel) at least that way you get exercise.

Cat's get plenty of exercise. Studies have shown that the frequency of cat's purring promotes healthy bones. They can literally exercise in their sleep. Awesome. No wonder the Egyptians worshipped them.

Evolution is a questionable subject and I believe that in the case of humanity that Evolution did not happen.. that means we did not evolve from curious george.

Well, some of us didn't. (http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushchimpanzee.htm) . But the rest of us have come a little bit further.

Cat's get plenty of exercise. Studies have shown that the frequency of cat's purring promotes healthy bones. They can literally exercise in their sleep. Awesome. No wonder the Egyptians worshipped them.
I was kidding. I know that Cats get exercise. I have one, he runs all over the place, top speed at about 2 in the morning.

Have you been spying on me?!? :eek:

It's hard not to notice a naked guy prancing about on a meadow in the middle of the night while covered in mustard. The smell will clue you in if nothing else.

Although this is better than the time you pretended to be a rabid chihuahua =-p


he SAID he'd be naked while oding it, so maybe just the mustard. hotdog suit does not allow mother nature to caress your WEEN!

Well, he DOES look like a hotdog doing that, so maybe he just looks like one naturally?