Existentialism

[Madeline]

I have my view on why we were put on this earth and the purpose of our existence. I know that there are agnostics and atheist here who argue about our existence from a philosophical viewpoint. I'm as curious what some of you might reason as to why we exist—in a nutshell, please explain.

Love,
Madeline

[methylatedghosts]

McCulloch, so genetics play a huge role in human behavior? What are we robots? Pray tell, where do such feelings and emotions as compassion, guilt, sympathy, embarrassment and shame come from? Would you say that these are developed rather than innate? mmmm....hmmm!

Love,
Madeline

They do. Genetics are the source of your basic behavioural blueprint. Genetics determine what type of person you are inclined to be. (note: "inclined"). With personal development, these "blueprints" can be altered in any way that can mean you are more compassionate, than maybe your genes would suggest you to be. This doesn't mean that we are robots following a set programming. Environment also plays a part. (As in, upbringing, society etc)

All those emotions you listed, and all the others as well are only neural firing patterns in the brain. Genetics determine which parts of your brain are more likely to grow/not grow. If your genetics determine your "compasionate" brain area to grow more, and your "anger" area to not grow as much (or could be more growth in the "not-anger" part), you are inclined to be more compassionate than an angry person.

But also, environment plays a part in developing these sorts of areas and although your genetics might say "growth in compassion area" your upbringing could result in "less growth in compassion area". So they are both genetically determined and developed.

[McCulloch]

McCulloch, so genetics play a huge role in human behavior?

That is what research seem to be telling us. Except that the research indicates that genetics play a huge role in the behaviour of all life with genes.

What are we robots?

No. But I believe that our behaviour is deterministic. By that I mean that our behaviour is completely determined by a complex and chaotic set of factors including but not limited to genetics, biochemistry, past interactions and perhaps quantum randomness.

Pray tell, where do such feelings and emotions as compassion, guilt, sympathy, embarrassment and shame come from?

Biochemistry. We've proven that. Feelings and emotions can be heightened, dulled, induced and altered by drugs. We don't quite understand all of the details, but clearly emotions are linked to biochemistry. Biochemistry is affected by genetics.

[Madeline]

Yeah but why is that? why is it that biochemistry causes to feel these emotions in the first place. Anger, shame, guilt, embarassment, etc...whether drugs can alter these emotional states, why are they there? I am quite certain that if one was born on a desert island she/he would still be prone to anger, it is innate. Why is that? Why do human beings behave this way? It seems likely that an intelligent being put it there in the first place, no?

Love,
Madeline

[McCulloch]

Yeah but why is that? why is it that biochemistry causes to feel these emotions in the first place. Anger, shame, guilt, embarassment, etc...whether drugs can alter these emotional states, why are they there?

Because they provide an advantage in natural selection.

I am quite certain that if one was born on a desert island she/he would still be prone to anger, it is innate.

Agreed. It is genetic.

Why is that? Why do human beings behave this way? It seems likely that an intelligent being put it there in the first place, no?

No. Genetics, biochemistry and natural selection are sufficient to explain emotions. Why invoke the supernatural?

[Madeline]

Well I find it hard to swallow that there isn't intelligent design as to why there even is natural selection. Why was the first human being created in such a way? i.e., their biochemical makeup and natural selection? Surely you can see as to why this boggles my mind!

Love,
Madeline

[methylatedghosts]

Does a dog or a cat not feel emotions? A friends rat got depressed when its partner died. A dog gets upset when you hit it with a stick, or gets angry/defensive when a stranger walks onto the property. Emotions provide advantages through evolution. When a person stole your food, it was a good thing to get angry because if you didn't, you probably wouldn't get your food back, and might starve. This is the same reason animals get upset/angry etc. Have you ever seen a bull elephant rejected from the herd? If that doesn't show anger, I don't know what does.

Drugs can alter emotions due to their chemical makeup. Many drugs have similare structures to dopamine or serotonin (neuro transmitters in the brain) and so their receptors react to the drugs. This alters the emotional state of the person taking the drug. Very simple, really.

[McCulloch]

Well I find it hard to swallow that there isn't intelligent design as to why there even is natural selection. Why was the first human being created in such a way? i.e., their biochemical makeup and natural selection? Surely you can see as to why this boggles my mind!

No. Perhaps you do not understand evolution. No one generation is very different from the one before. There is no identifiable first human. Our chimpanzee like ancestors were more intelligent and more social than others of their kind. The early hominids were, after many generations of natural selection, more intelligent and social than them.

Natural selection should be somewhat self explanatory. Genes with the characteristics more suited to survival in the long run tend to survive more.

[fonso]

I have my view on why we were put on this earth and the purpose of our existence. I know that there are agnostics and atheist here who argue about our existence from a philosophical viewpoint. I'm as curious what some of you might reason as to why we exist—in a nutshell, please explain.

Taking a deist's viewpoint, I would say that the purpose of life is to further our understanding of the universe, pushing forward towards an Omega point and seeking an understanding of the mind of God.

While discussing the exact same topic, an atheist friend once told me something to the tune of "life is an ultimately meaningless journey through endless diversions and useless motivations, so let's just have the most fun while we're at it". Needless to say, this one's a party animal.

Different strokes for different folks. I guess the purpose of one's existence may well be to find a purpose for existing.

[Madeline]

Taking a deist's viewpoint, I would say that the purpose of life is to further our understanding of the universe, pushing forward towards an Omega point and seeking an understanding of the mind of God.

While discussing the exact same topic, an atheist friend once told me something to the tune of "life is an ultimately meaningless journey through endless diversions and useless motivations, so let's just have the most fun while we're at it". Needless to say, this one's a party animal.

Different strokes for different folks. I guess the purpose of one's existence may well be to find a purpose for existing.

Are you speaking of individual understanding or the human races' furthering their understanding of the universe? Most people waste their entire lives trying to find meaning and purpose while others believe we are just here to live life to the fullest. For some reason it seems like a vain purpose to live life to its fullest knowing that one day you will be snuffed out into non-existence. Whats the purpose of living if you know that you can't live forever? Some may disagree with me, but I believe that Jesus said it the best:

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Love,
Madeline

[QED]

Well I find it hard to swallow that there isn't intelligent design as to why there even is natural selection. Why was the first human being created in such a way? i.e., their biochemical makeup and natural selection? Surely you can see as to why this boggles my mind!

It needn't be mind boggling at all. I get the feeling you don't like my explanations, but I would remind you that every living thing has a genetic "blueprint" which specifies the way the organism develops from inception. Early life on this planet had a much simpler blueprint but, in common with all living things right up to today, the blueprint is susceptible to minor variations each time it is reproduced -- just like a xerox copy -- but unlike a xerox copy it can also be a merger of two other blueprints. So each new generation has the potential to be slightly different from the last. The blueprint for every individual in every generation gets "tested" by the challenge of surviving in the world and if it's good enough then it'll make it at least as far as producing the next generation. All this takes life on a grand walk along pathways trodden through a field of "all possible living things". That's how I understand natural selection to work and it makes perfect sense to me. I don't see anything within that explanation that sounds impossible or unlikely. Do you?