And here are the five questions that you are grappling with from last class.
The Religious Impulse?
1. Explain the evolution of religion. Define your terms as you use them, e.g. “religion”.
2. Explain why the features of religion that makes it such a powerful force in human history.
3. Does practicing a religion develop an advantage from a Darwinian standpoint (i.e. an advantage in competition for resources, selective advantage, survival of the fittest)?
4. How is religion an adaptation to circumstances (think Darwinism again)?
5. Explain an example of looking at the natural history of a religion.
Here are some notes from the TED talk today - ideas to consider when addressing the questions above....
a1. There is evolutionary evidence of a human need for self transcendence.
2. 2. One of the earliest bits of evidence for this is collective joy/grief that we see today - this will likely have occurred throughout human history.
Transcending our own existence takes us from the basics of human life (needs on earth) to "spiritual" or higher needs that we possess, e.g. the need to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
Self-interest diminishes, the collective good takes on more meaning.
The big question remains, "How could it possibly be healthy for us to lose ourselves for a greater cause, e.g. die in war, give money to charity.
Culture arose - culture is the complete set of learned human behaviour patterns.
\ Often transcending oneself requires that we lose our individuality and become part of a greater collective drive/goal/outcome/pursuit.
2. Explain why the features of religion that makes it such a powerful force in human history.
3. Does practicing a religion develop an advantage from a Darwinian standpoint (i.e. an advantage in competition for resources, selective advantage, survival of the fittest)?
4. How is religion an adaptation to circumstances (think Darwinism again)?
5. Explain an example of looking at the natural history of a religion.
Here are some notes from the TED talk today - ideas to consider when addressing the questions above....
a1. There is evolutionary evidence of a human need for self transcendence.
2. 2. One of the earliest bits of evidence for this is collective joy/grief that we see today - this will likely have occurred throughout human history.
Transcending our own existence takes us from the basics of human life (needs on earth) to "spiritual" or higher needs that we possess, e.g. the need to belong to something bigger than ourselves.
Self-interest diminishes, the collective good takes on more meaning.
The big question remains, "How could it possibly be healthy for us to lose ourselves for a greater cause, e.g. die in war, give money to charity.
Culture arose - culture is the complete set of learned human behaviour patterns.
\ Often transcending oneself requires that we lose our individuality and become part of a greater collective drive/goal/outcome/pursuit.
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