Instincts

[Illuminattile]

Are modern-day humans still driven by instincts? Are our actions still driven by the basic needs for food, water, shelter, company, security...or have we outgrown this instincts? Have our instincts been dulled, or eliminated outright, or are they as present and as prevalent as ever? Clearly animals, even those we take in and pamper, live much more instinctively than we do. Does the fact that we seem to spend a disproportionate amount of our time obsessing over things that ultimately make no difference to our lives mean that we're wired differently? Or is it just the case that survival has become so easy for most of us that we have to complicate our lives to make them interesting.

Can you reduce every decision or pattern of behaviour that you make to the fundamental needs that we share with the most primitive of animals, or do we have loftier goals? Maslow theorised that at the very top of the hierarchy of human need was self-actualisation; the need to be what we can be. The need to fulfil our potential. Does this need exist and if so is it something which separates us from the animals? Do animals understand the concept of potential? Do fish think to themselves "I wonder what I could have achieved if I'd payed more attention in school"?

Does the very fact that I made this topic rather than foraging for food or starting a camp fire mean that we possess some higher brain function that gives us an impetus to do things that more primitive species don't?

 

[Jokerman]

Does the very fact that I made this topic rather than foraging for food or starting a camp fire mean that we possess some higher brain function that gives us an impetus to do things that more primitive species don't?

No, it just means you have some money and a roof over your head. Those who don't--the homeless--can be found foraging for food and starting campfires.

 

[not really ken]

No, it just means you have some money and a roof over your head. Those who don't--the homeless--can be found foraging for food and starting campfires.

lmao, 'tis the truth.

 

[Khaled]

i think our instincts have been dulled, but it's better seen on individual basis rather than society or human beings as a whole.

in some societies that have been living in war zones for a long time, you find instincts such as survival a lot more developped (or less dulled) than other places.
On the other hand, it might just be that some instincts are replaced by others, such as survival might be replaced by something related to work experience.

Animals are self actualized by being animals, and following their instincts. Domesticated animals, however, loose most of their instincts (if u pamper a cat, then send it to the wild, it ll probably die).

 

[devils_advok8]

Are modern-day humans still driven by instincts? Are our actions still driven by the basic needs for food, water, shelter, company, security...or have we outgrown this instincts? Have our instincts been dulled, or eliminated outright, or are they as present and as prevalent as ever?

Yes, I think we are still driven by instincts.We're just trying to liven up to a standard that's no different than people hundreds and thousands of years ago.It's not as easy as you're making it sound, but it changes with time.People who can afford food in the present time are no different than peasants or people with influence back in the day.A small shelter would suffice for those peasants just as much as a Middle-Class citizen got it right now.The more we evolve, the more our needs, but (vaguely phrased) a the rate of standard we're trying to catch up to is still the same.Like a middle class westerner maybe lead a better life than a middle class Asian, but all in all, they're both looking for the same thing according to the environment they live in.
Also, it's more the fact that the more we evolve, the more lazy we get.Several hundred years ago you had to walk from point A to point B, you would have to heat the water if you wanted to take a shower, etc.Nowadays we got cars, we turn the hot tap on if we wanted hot water, etc.Also, the knowledge/education you could've gained back then takes alot more time than you can now.

Clearly animals, even those we take in and pamper, live much more instinctively than we do. Does the fact that we seem to spend a disproportionate amount of our time obsessing over things that ultimately make no difference to our lives mean that we're wired differently? Or is it just the case that survival has become so easy for most of us that we have to complicate our lives to make them interesting.

And who said that it wasnt the same thing centuries ago?Even in the richest nations, you have to work your ass off to pay the bills and save what's left of it.

Can you reduce every decision or pattern of behaviour that you make to the fundamental needs that we share with the most primitive of animals, or do we have loftier goals? Maslow theorised that at the very top of the hierarchy of human need was self-actualisation; the need to be what we can be. The need to fulfil our potential. Does this need exist and if so is it something which separates us from the animals? Do animals understand the concept of potential? Do fish think to themselves "I wonder what I could have achieved if I'd payed more attention in school"?

Good point, but Maslow's theory applies most to modern day business strategies: self actualisation, esteem, sense of belonging, safety/security and physiological needs.Once again, it differs from time to another.Back then it was just "work and get paid" and people were as much as happy and pretty much set themselves similar goals as we do now.
Yes, I think it exists, but there are so many fields and professions nowadays that you'll be left confused.It was either a warrior, king, merchant, doctor, etc till a few hundred years ago.Now you can be a lawyer, a psychatrist, therapist, manager, etc.I assume you go to college, havent you ever considered changing your major?And if so, how many options were you left with?
I don't think animals understand the concept of potential.How many animals can build their own house?Invent?They just live on what Earth's given them.
Fish couldnt think like that (neither could any other creatures) for the simple fact they're not really evolving (excluding population).We have proven ourselves over the years that we can evolve and make life easier for the next generations.

Does the very fact that I made this topic rather than foraging for food or starting a camp fire mean that we possess some higher brain function that gives us an impetus to do things that more primitive species don't?

More like laziness and the thought that you can do it all later

 

[Amara]

Are modern-day humans still driven by instincts? Are our actions still driven by the basic needs for food, water, shelter, company, security...or have we outgrown this instincts? Have our instincts been dulled, or eliminated outright, or are they as present and as prevalent as ever? Clearly animals, even those we take in and pamper, live much more instinctively than we do. Does the fact that we seem to spend a disproportionate amount of our time obsessing over things that ultimately make no difference to our lives mean that we're wired differently? Or is it just the case that survival has become so easy for most of us that we have to complicate our lives to make them interesting

I think those instincts are very much in tact, but that history, evolution or whatever you might call it has enabled our potential to be heightened, but not so much that those instincts have been outgrown, instead they are easily fufilled. That is kind of mincing words though. We are born with those instincts, the need to be fed, the desire for comfort and love that babies possess. Yet in this state of modernity, we dont have to fight to survive. Our instincts are taken care of - our needs fufilled (of course with the exception of disadvantaged/marginalised groups, which is obvious).

So in that sense, I think we are able to develop 'loftier goals.' Whether that is because of some already possessed greater brain functioning which allows us to look further than the immediate needs or if it is simple a reaction to the process by which we are able satisfy instincts and therefore seek more, I dont know. If it is the latter, it is a wonder that more animals do not seek to achieve potential as a furtherance of meeting their immediate instincts and needs. As for humans though, without the creation of this more complicated kind of existence it would certainly be a stagnant and boring life.