Spirituality
02 Apr 15
02 Apr 15
Originally posted by Ghost of a DukeI'm not trying to talk about human instinct, animal would be fine.
I don't think people are born with knowledge, but rather are born with fear and a desire to explain the world around them. (To make it feel safe).
'If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.'
Voltaire
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02 Apr 15
Originally posted by KellyJaywhat type of knowledge do you mean, can you give some examples?
After thinking about if people were born with knowledge or not, just simply
thinking about instinct made me wonder why would anything have that type
of knowledge? What would cause somethings to be programmed in and others
not?
Thoughts?
02 Apr 15
Originally posted by KellyJayThere are two basic factors:
What would cause somethings to be programmed in and others
not?
1. Things that increase the chance of reproduction are more likely to get programmed in.
2. Things that can get programmed in by chance are more likely to get programmed in.
So under 1, we see quite a lot of behaviours including how baby animals behave in order to get fed, protected etc, feeding behaviours, including 'knowledge' of what to eat and what not to eat, mating behaviours.
Under 2. we see for example the tendency to copy and vocalise what others say and thus learn a language, but we are less likely to see instinctual language. We also see a tendency to like certain foods/colours/tastes etc rather than specific 'knowledge' of given animals/plants.
02 Apr 15
Originally posted by stellspalfieHow do they know specific things, like where they were born, go to the
what type of knowledge do you mean, can you give some examples?
water, for that matter what to do when hungry? Blank slates cannot know
these things, they must be for lack of a better word, programmed in.
04 Apr 15
Originally posted by KellyJayThere's "knowledge how" and "knowledge of". Giraffe's can run within about an hour of birth, humans just can't we have to learn to walk, this is "knowledge how" to do things. However, things like where watering holes are is "knowledge of" where things are. The knowledge how can be programmed, "knowledge of" cannot, at least in any evolutionary account, it's too specific. Any knowledge of God would presumably come under the category of "acquaintance knowledge" which is a different thing again.
How do they know specific things, like where they were born, go to the
water, for that matter what to do when hungry? Blank slates cannot know
these things, they must be for lack of a better word, programmed in.
04 Apr 15
Originally posted by DeepThoughtThe how and of seems a good way of describing it. I'd also throw out that
There's "knowledge how" and "knowledge of". Giraffe's can run within about an hour of birth, humans just can't we have to learn to walk, this is "knowledge how" to do things. However, things like where watering holes are is "knowledge of" where things are. The knowledge how can be programmed, "knowledge of" cannot, at least in any evolutionary account ...[text shortened]... presumably come under the category of "acquaintance knowledge" which is a different thing again.
learning to walk and run may be learned, but even that is impressive! Why
would there be a need to understand and learn that? Something within must
also drive the need to know and do!