| I apologize for saying you were the one who said that about the shiny toys. But wow do we come from different viewpoints. Are you sure we both have the same type of brain? :) > slightly-evolved apes who have become infatuated with our technology You still think we are more or less similar to apes? I'm having a hard time responding to this because I just can't understand how you think that way. The difference between humans and apes is not just a matter of degree, it's a matter of kind. Apes have more in common with mice than they do with humans, despite how different they look to mice, and how similar to humans. We aren't infatuated with technology - the use we have of technology is put to solving the same problems we've always had. How to connect with people, and how to live. > For example, arguably technology on its whole became a net loss once we invented nuclear weapons -- until that point, we never were a push-button away from extinction. We still aren't. Or are you under the mistaken impression that nuclear bombs could cause human extinction? All the bombs ever created couldn't do that, even if carefully detonated (they could cause devastation, but not not extinction). We have a greater capacity to cause disasters, but an even greater capacity to solve them, as a whole a net win. And did you loose sight of the fact that we made these bombs - and only used them twice? That speaks volumes about humanity. I bet you would have never predicted that if you were asked a few decades ago if we would use them. > evolved to suit cave-man conditions, not the modern world that we've invented around us; cultural and technological evolution have outpaced natural evolution in our lineage The modern world was not thrust upon us by an outside force, we created it because it suits us. We don't need to "evolve" to match it - we created it exactly the way we want. > For example, to most Americans, American civilian lives are worth much more than civilians in say Iraq or Afghanistan; not because Americans cannot affect Iraqi or Afghani lives -- we have and continue to do so You have not made your point. Our president can affect Iraqi lives, but any individual person on the street can do nothing about it. We read about sectarian violence between two religious sects (Suni, Shi'ite) that to non-Muslims appear identical and just can't understand why they even fight, much less do anything about it. |
> Apes have more in common with mice than they do with humans
No, apes are social, tribal creatures that inter-communicate vocally and via body language. They use tools and manipulate their environment to make their quality of life better. They have territory and fight to the death to protect that territory. If you were to ask me what species this describes, the first thing that would pop into my head is "human."
If I were to say to someone "You're ugly and your mother's a whore" most people would have a sudden increase in adrenaline, followed by a wave of uncontrollable anger. Many times, this anger would drive us to do something like lash out physically or verbally. The emotions and feelings we experience throughout the day control us and shape our experience, just like they do an ape or a dog. Our difference from other mammals is really only defined by our ego, or our very basic awareness of self. Our awareness of self is rudimentary at best, yet our egos over-inflate it's abilities and importance.
We've created the environment around us as does a rabbit burrows into the ground. While the materials we fabricate and build with are unique, all we are doing is constructing shelters to feel safe.
Your example of nuclear bombs and having them for logical reasons is, in my opinion, incorrect. Our logical reasons for having weapons that could wipe out all of humanity can be reduced to little more than an alpha ape beating its chest at another. Rationalize it however you want. Most of our behavior, even on the macro level, is controlled by our inherently tribal instinct.
We have not transcended our animal nature, not in the slightest. We've only fooled ourselves into thinking we have. Language, technology, government; take these away and you've got apes. Even then, language and government are not unique to humans.