For those interested in the evolution of a post the above was inspired by this....

LB

Your point is good. You are illustrating that it is the mind that drives evolution and not physical mutations and survival. At least that is what I think drives evolution.

You ARE stuck with the genetic code you're born with. For life.

That's what's wrong with the Greek idea of the perfectable human being (an idea that got assimilated into the theology of the early Christian church); similarly, it's what's wrong with Fidel's "new/socialist man" dream.

Fortunately, our genes give us a lot of scope to to take charge over our thoughts, attitudes, values and behaviour. We are able to take all mammals' capacity to learn a little further which makes us as adaptable as we are; able to survive in more environmental contexts than any other mammal.

But the idea that we can go further than our genetic boundaries opens the way to utopianism which is the ideological foundation of every totalitarian dream. And every totalitarian dream produces vastly more misery than it does contentment.

Recognising our limitations is absolutely essential to existential humility. If we lose humility, we will most assuredly destroy this planet and ourselves.

But becoming prisoners of our perceived limitations will be equally destructive, will it not?

If we accept that the current state of affairs is as good as it gets, then it will be as good as it gets.

Personally I think we can do better.  I think we have been given the tools to do better.  I don't believe we have reached our limitations or even grasped our potential for doing better.

Sigh, perhaps I'm just an egotistical, utopian, out of stepper...

LB

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.     Sir Francis Bacon

LB: Sigh, perhaps I'm just an egotistical, utopian, out of stepper...

You go girl!

Me too; loved the video.

HUZZAH!

Change is the fundamental nature of nature. What I think of, right now, as normal, is just a lull and my neurology putting its map on things. Things change at different rates, from the theoretical breakdown of protons (hint: universe will end before protons decay) to galaxies flying apart, to our solar system's planets going awry, through to us mayflies, down to the virtual particles that are being spontaneously created and destroyed all the time. These different time scales seem to be necessary. If DNA didn't last as long as it did, then we couldn't have chromosomes or genes, which then we wouldn't have cells etc etc up the chain, even to WC :3

Looks like you're already doomed, Mike:

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn13568
 

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14965

Oh, and I've got a new word for you: asymptopia -- what we are constantly reaching for, the long-term goal, the paradise that we will never, quite reach :3

Oh, and this reminds me of the talk that my father and I saw last night. It was aboot this great Canadian science project that has helped us unnerstand the DEEP SEKRETS of universe. The SNO (Sudbury Neutrino Observatory) is located around 2km deep in a nickel mine where the ambient temperature is 40 C. There they filled up a HOOGE acrylic container with some 1000 tonnes of heavy water (which was available thanks to our nuclear industry -- another of the fine side benefits) that they RENTED for $1 (while it was worth some 300 million). So, imagine this, they had to lug this water to the mine shaft, then lug it down (in a cage that was roughly the same size as an office desk), pour it into the sphere, keeping it CLEAN, then when they were finished with it, suck it back up, transport it up the mine shaft and to its destination.

That bespeaks to me of the true human soul. With knowledge and skill and preserverance.

Humanity looked upon their Works and said "It is good. But could still use some tweaking,"

Inannawhimsey

hi LB. This sounds more like the nature/nurture depate than the evolution/creation debate. It's true that some of our behaviors are determined by our genes but they can also be changed by our experiences. We have basic programming but we also learn as we go along and reprogram ourselves based on what we learn. That is a form of evolution (although not the biological kind that we usually talk about).

As soon as we humans had evolved creatively thinking minds, and used them creatively, we stepped beyond the limitations of genetic codes and causal chains into the realm of the infinite. We became like gods.

Alas, so far, we have used our godly power of creativeness more destructively than creatively. Becoming aware that we are not mere creators, but creators in the image of the ultimate Creator, will cause us to use our creative/destructive powers more responsibly, wisely, and creatively.

Homo sapiens is about to commit "speciescide" (suicide of the species). The only thing that can halt this self-destructive trend is the awareness of our innate godliness and creativeness. Then we become God's co-evolvers, and use our creative/destructive powers to co-evolve natural evolution in the direction it is naturally going: toward ever-increasing complexity, beauty, diversity, and consciousness.

In the seventies and early eighties, people affiliated with the Zen Center of San Francisco published the magazine "Co-Evolution Quarterly" and the "Whole Earth Catalog." Every edition of the Whole Earth Catalog came out with the following foreword by the editor, Stewart Brand: "WE ARE AS GODS and might as well get good at it."

"We are as gods" is a momentary insight; "getting good at it" requires a lifetime of creative effort and unwavering dedication. The insight assures that the effort goes well, and is the pre-requisite.

Could this insight be the insight of Jesus' "kingdom within," also known as "the kingdom of God," or "the kingdom of heaven?" The insight of "The Father and I are one?"

"Rejoice, and be glad, blessed are you, holy are you,

Rejoice, and be glad, your's is the kingdom of God." 

That's some good insight Arminius. Many Americans are afraid of us "playing god" but it's probably the only way we'll ever get out of the mess we've put ourselves in. Maybe if we get good at it, then we won't just be "playing".

Exactly, KR, you got it!

This is not "playing God" in the proverbial, irresponsible sense of that phrase. This acting responsibly, as if we were an inseparable part of God (which I believe we are). Moreover, we are the only part of God that can do something about this unholy mess that we ourselves, playing God irresponsibly, have created.

Of course, KR, you know by now that I define God as the self-generative universe.

 i love your description of the journey from a curious child to an experienced adult. very talented writing.

LB,

I agree with Starboy, very talented writing.

Personal evolution has always interested me, as I'm sure it does many of us who are interested in having a better life.

I've found that my childhood is always with me - the Jesuit's were right! That said, modifications and adjustments can be achieved and lead to a better life.

It's often difficult to accept the truth - that we can't be the person we would like to be - ultimately we have to accept the person we are.

But there is hope. Ironically, I've found that when I come to terms with the person I currently am - I inch a step closer to being the person I would like to be.