why do humans behave as they do?

[Jedoro]

Humans are inherently stupid, scared, and destructive. a human left alone will naturally turn out this way. they must be taught to act well and behave and treasure things around them.

This

Humans behave the way they are because of how they were or weren't raised. Some are sheltered from the world, some have the evils thrown at them from birth, and some have a balance of both. Some, like me, even get to raise themselves for a while or the whole time. But how we behave is decided by our childhood and past.

 

[GBlair88]

Because people are idiots.

/Thread

 

[bodyklok]

Well lets start with emotions: a lot of our emotions, such as guilt, evolve within groups in order to preserve social harmony, the reason for the want to sustain social harmony is simple: groups are better at surviving than than individuals (Normally), hence, groups will get more resources than individuals, reproduce more, and eclipse their uncooperative relatives.

Emotions like anger evolve due to competition, to give an example: two males see a female they want to mate with, they start to argue, and the dude who gets angry first has first blood, a head start, so he beats the other guy a gets lots of sex.

I know that's a crap example, but you get the point, it's basic evolution. The survival of the most adapted.

It's also shows to of the fundamental driving forces in human evolution; co-operation, and competition.

We have grown such a grand view of ourselves that we have become cocky and confident. We think our actions are something unique to our own. We have grown complacent in our magnificence and rather arrogant, lording over all living creation like a mass of omnipotent super beings.

Undoubtedly there are those who think humans are the pinnacle of life on Earth, I guess it's a matter of opinion, but there's more truth to it that you let on: humans are, by the definition of the word, remarkable. we have traits which are totally unique to us, seen no where else in life on Earth; we're the only species to have teenagers, and forrmulate expressive art.

Admittedly, like I said before, this is all a matter of opinion. We're absolutely trumped in some areas by other animals. All I would really argue though is that do stand apart, thought value is a subjective term.

Existence.

What? You just listed a bunch of things, many of which are common through out nature; like pain and pleasure. Could you elaborate on that? I think I know what you're getting at but it still doesn't make a lot of sense.

Obvious Troll Is Obvious.

That's a bit harsh, dude.

I doubht this is trolling, though, I do see the makes of a religious flame war.

 

[Duskwaith]

A mixture of bio-chemistry, upbringing and to a degree genetics. oh and society aswell

 

[AgentNein]

Human beings in the grand scheme of things are actually an interesting lot. We're not any more 'evil' than any other animal, we're just more successful in doing what essentially every species tries to do. One could argue that due to entropy no biosphere will stay in a balanced state forever, and we're just the eventuality. The gear that finally broke the clock.

The fact that we have a not-small amount of people in the world who actively work against our animal nature in the attempt to lower the overall suffering of other people and other life in general is (in my opinion) impressive.

All this talk of humans being evil? Dominant species guilt.

 

[space_oddity]

Obvious Troll Is Obvious.

That's a bit harsh, dude.

I doubht this is trolling, though, I do see the makes of a religious flame war.

Look at the OP man, he is asking some of the broadest philosophical questions possible.

Asking a non-specfic philosophical question at the escapist is like going to a catholic forum and posting "Wat do yu l0v3 mOsT about the POPE?!!1 i lOOOOve his cOmPa55ion <3!!1".

Also, wiki debate thread got locked (sad face).

 

[quiet_samurai]

Because is the natural state of the world, which includes humans as well. Civilization as a whole is an exception to the natural order.

 

[brumby]

awesome replies. thanks!