Showing posts with label anthropology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthropology. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Visiting Expert: Anthropologist
Look at an ant colony. What is it's goal?
- to survive
-really? that's it?
-to do what the queen tells it to do.
-but why?
-because... they want to make more of themselves.
-they want to make more of themselves.
-they want to take all the surrounding materials and use them as the nutrients that will allow them to make more of themselves.
-they want everything to be them, they want to be everything.
Now look at humans. What is the goal of the human superorganism?
-i dont think it has one.
-you dont think it has one?
-well, i think that there are multiple colonies of humans competing for homogeneity. Right now, every country, every culture, every religion, every gang, every individual is trying to define their own way of being. Maybe the goal of the human superorganism needs to be identifying it's own purpose. honestly though, i think that we've had the fortune to study the smallest parts of organisms and find rules in the smallest of components.
-So then maybe the goal needs to be fundamental and more biological than cultural. Do we share the same goal as the ant? To make more of ourselves until we make everything us?
-but you can't make everything you because you need enough resources to provide for the continuation of a species.
-there needs to be balance.
An interesting take by PBS...are we 'weedy' enough to thrive in anything?
And...just for fun. Watch this... This video is incredible. It reveals the architecture of an ant colony.
- to survive
-really? that's it?
-to do what the queen tells it to do.
-but why?
-because... they want to make more of themselves.
-they want to make more of themselves.
-they want to take all the surrounding materials and use them as the nutrients that will allow them to make more of themselves.
-they want everything to be them, they want to be everything.
Now look at humans. What is the goal of the human superorganism?
-i dont think it has one.
-you dont think it has one?
-well, i think that there are multiple colonies of humans competing for homogeneity. Right now, every country, every culture, every religion, every gang, every individual is trying to define their own way of being. Maybe the goal of the human superorganism needs to be identifying it's own purpose. honestly though, i think that we've had the fortune to study the smallest parts of organisms and find rules in the smallest of components.
-So then maybe the goal needs to be fundamental and more biological than cultural. Do we share the same goal as the ant? To make more of ourselves until we make everything us?
-but you can't make everything you because you need enough resources to provide for the continuation of a species.
-there needs to be balance.
An interesting take by PBS...are we 'weedy' enough to thrive in anything?
And...just for fun. Watch this... This video is incredible. It reveals the architecture of an ant colony.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Bullet Ant Ritual
These rituals could be seen as cultural coping mechanisms for an evolutionary
need. Living in this forest means that getting attacked is a definite
possibility, so a strong tribe is required.
This ritual is a right of passage to become a man. Boys die--but those who
survive become men worthy of passing on their genes.
Makes me wonder, what are the cultural coping mechanisms in my own society?
Somehow this seems connected: Cyber Bullying Led to Teen's Suicide
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)