Survival: The Ultimate Mission. Robert M.D. Skaf

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СКАЧАТЬ hardly experienced by most living things. The rise in mental illness provides a compelling proof to my argument. Only when vision becomes part of the equation does the need for a powerful brain become justifiable. Even in our time, vision is still a rare commodity. If this vision was developed on another planet, than so did our brain. Look how easy brain and knowledge can become obsolete. Left to intelligence alone, the best mechanical engineer of today is not going to help the human cause if we were to experience a severe oil shortage. The vision to plan for an alternative life style will. Medicine, perhaps the highest profession, without compassion can also be used to destroy humanity. Even when the mind is performing at its best, it does not mean much unless it makes a clear contribution to humanity, in other word: intelligence without empathy without interaction is of no benefit to humanity. Let’s be clear on this: the only reason an inventive, creative powerful mind was useful is because it helped humanity evolve socially which in turn made it possible for many civilizations to flourish. As we can observe biological and physiological evolution is limited to physical improvement, only through a huge civilized society does intellectual, scientific and artistic progress take place. We cannot look at the evolution of man by focusing on biology alone. The fact that no species other than ours interacts intellectually proves that survival on earth does not require the development of such intellectual skills as language and writing. The fact that we happen to be the only species to acquire a language is a clear indication that complex and rigorous mental exercises were part of our daily survival long before we appeared on planet earth. This language was not invented here on earth. No other species saw a need for it; we did for a simple reason: long before our landing on this planet, our very survival on a different one with a much harsher climate required the cooperation of all members. These members were already performing tasks that required a complex brain, developing a language was only logical to enhance their communicative abilities. Inventing such a sophisticated language proves to us that a powerful, inventive, creative, complex brain was not enough to ensure survival, it also needed the cooperation and collaboration of other similar brains and above all, it needed vision as well. Conversely, the civilization we are alluding to would have had to be far more complex and advanced than our modern civilization. Evidence uncovered by archaeologists suggests that early humans were intellectuals. Despite their physical, physiological and biological disadvantages, they were able to survive without the need for any inventions or tools. From an evolutionary perspective, it didn’t’t make any sense to acquire any intellectual faculties. The only way one may be able to explain this astonishing contrast with all other species is by going back to what has been established earlier on in this essay. Our evolution must have taken place on another planet that was completely different than earth. It would be a great shame to see such a sophisticated species perish after surviving a planetary journey. Not because of the ultimate impending catastrophe we alluded to previously, but because of complacency and negligence. Our generation must try very hard to project a better image of itself for future generations. Unlike our ancestors, we have more freedom and can’t blame all the harm done to the environment on ruthless dictators, nor can we expect to squander the earth resources without shouldering some responsibility for our behaviour. Only vision would help us realize that current arrangements are no longer conducive for our long term survival. Let’s face it, the only way to prove that intelligent life is an improvement over a dump life, an asset as opposed to being a liability, is for us to survive beyond this planet. Failing that, we would be the unluckiest species to walk the earth. Just think of all the agony and anguish a powerful and conscious brain inflicts on us every day. Just being aware of death alone is a burden that no other species has to cope with. Mentally anguish and emotional pain is another load confined to humans.

      It is my sincere hope that the next part of this essay would provide common citizens, present and future leaders with the input to form a collective vision on how our generation should plan for our long term survival as an intelligent caring species rather than a ruthless barbaric one. The fittest may be able to survive for a long time, but the species that is going to make it beyond this planet is going to be the one with collective vision. Survival of the fittest is a theory that may apply for terrestrials. Survival of the visionary would be a more adequate description for the ones who are going to make it beyond this planet. If you detect an emotional tone emerging, don’t be surprised for the next chapter is going to analyze how important it was for an intelligent visionary species to acquire emotions.

      EMOTIONS: THE FORGOTTEN ELEMENT

      BEYOND INTELLECT

      (In the struggle for survival, emotions have always been ignored or misunderstood. It is a mistake to judge any present behaviour based on years or decades of history or even centuries. We cannot encapsulate billions of years of evolution in a few years of observation. Insects invented chemicals such as pheromone to communicate and assign tasks, our species invented emotions to do job. You will know what I am talking about after you have read this chapter.)

      Most evolutionists believe that life is the product of a biological process that only involves chemical and organic interaction. The majority of them also are convinced that the human race evolved from other living forms, an event that needed billions of years to reach fruition. Although most of them fail to deny the existence of something special about the human kind, they refuse to attribute anything distinguishable in the human race to any spiritual or intellectual force. In their view intelligence is the product of the brain which is generated from the reaction of its chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, and the body own electrical charges that are transmitted through neurons and other channels that form a network similar to a circuit which allows any living form to think on its own .

      On the other hand, creationists believe in the existence of a Great Spirit that gave birth to the human race. From there, every religious sect comes up with its own version of why this Great Spirit created us. While evolutionists don't make the slightest attempt at discovering the reason for our existence, creationists' views are varied and may border on the bizarre at times.

      The prevailing Christian view can be summarized in the following sentence: God created us to worship him. The Jewish version is somewhat similar and most striking of all is how Islam had adopted the same concept. Since Judaism happened to be older than the other two faiths, it is not surprising that both Islam and Christianity have elected to include the Jewish beliefs in their respective dogma.

      These traditional religions are adamant about the origin of humans. Almost everyone on this planet knows about God and the story of Adam and Eve. Not only do I find the story of Adam and Eve to be the product of imagination of some creative mind; but, as stated earlier, I do not believe in the existence of a creator, intelligent designer or spiritual power. One does not have to be a scientist to hold the same views. The latest surveys show that the majority of people in Britain don’t believe God exists. Eventually, more people will find it increasingly difficult to believe in something whose existence can’t be proven. Interestingly, open minded believers admit that from a purely scientific stand, it is hard to proof that life is somehow created by a spirit much less believe in the afterlife. More on the subject of religion later.

      Although I am convinced that biology alone was responsible for the creation of life, my views were that the human race as a species evolved long before life on earth took hold. Scientists may have provided us with an accurate description of how other species had evolved on this planet and one day may be able to explain how the brain works. Furthermore, may be they are right in comparing the human race to other species and even equating our intelligence with many other living forms. As a matter of fact it was stated earlier in this essay that many animals are capable of thinking and capable of performing different tasks that require a certain degree of intelligence. According to evidence uncovered recently, chimps in Africa were using clubs made of bones and stones for hunting and cracking nuts. Still, the difference between humans and other living things is not restricted to the level of intelligence. In my view, the reason we ended up at the top of the food chain cannot to be contributed only to the size of our brain. The most important element we possess as a species is not intelligence. Having billions of intelligent people who think alike and behave in the same fashion does not СКАЧАТЬ