and like Vam think there are genetic motives for the behavior
(physiological/psychological). Like other animals we seek to secure
our survival by responding to our perceived environment, not
necessarily to the world at hand but the psychological response to
environmental pressures.
I've been watching the squirrels gathering various resources to fare
our Michigan winter and pondering what it is like to feel the
instinctual motive to respond to the change of seasons, for them I
mean (qualia). Perhaps it starts with an urge, a compulsive behavior
programmed into them that rewards them with peace or happiness to
accomplish their preparations like collecting a store of fruits and
nuts and to build their nest of leaves, grass and sticks in a tree.
Perhaps it is more to assuage the anxiety of dissonance, perhaps they
mostly exist in a panicky state as we would call it. A person who
behaved as erratically as a squirrel would be institutionalized, the
squirrel is in it's element near the woods, what natural ends I wonder
that we might be seeking in our behaviors. I haven't read Kostler's
Ghost in the Machine yet but I think this is what he referred to,
these fundamental human imperatives that arise and remind us that you
can take the ape out of the jungle but not visa-versa. It is obvious
that the squirrel is doing what it needs to do to survive, and if it
collects two times the needed nuts to do so it greatly improves it's
survival short or overworking itself thus burning more energy and
shortening it's life or to other chain effects.
Our insecurities can be manipulated, or our needs left ignored our
capacities allow our sense of want, insecurity, and anxieties to
create unending feelings of desire. We can breed all year, we can
think very very far ahead. It brings into question what environment
would be most beneficial for us- nature is reckless but effective. If
greed is a problem I think it isn't due to flawed human beings as much
as the failure to take what we know of the world and ourselves and
apply it our societies in a sensible manner. The cost of convenience
is rising, we've been riding high on the waste hog for a very long
time. It will probably get a bit worse, people are willing to cling to
false security, we've invested too much in this hand to fold, we are
narcissistic, arrogant and full of pride. The only thing left to do it
actually find some solutions.
A return to Eden, the noble savage and such isn't where I'm headed
with this, that sounds a bit too nostalgic and I don't think would fit
the long term cultural/technological/evolutionary requirements for
survival. Sorry this turned out a little longwinded PSK, but I enjoy
the exercise. :)
On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 11:26 AM, pol.science kid <r.freebird@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey everyone... i have been very dull of late with little mind
> activity... but.. today i was just going through Hind Swaraj.... and
> well its not about the book.. in the review pages.. i read something
> about Greed.. and it got me thinking.... only humans have greed
> right... i find it very peculiar.. the most common vice one is taught
> against from childhood...What is the nature of it... is there or can
> there be a why?... when does wanting enough turn to greed.... the
> dictionary defines it as wanting more than is necessary.... well..
> that appplies to everything then!.. we always have and want more than
> necessary or required... is being careful and cautious greedy(in
> wanting enough and more)... is being ambitious greedy.... why is being
> greedy wrong? ....very simplistic questions.. but i want to know what
> everyone thinks about this....
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