From: Romana Machado (romana@glamazon.com)
Date: Fri Dec 13 1996 - 10:21:19 MST
>On Fri, 13 Dec 1996, max m wrote:
>
>> David Musick wrote:
>>> [snip discussion about animal and human farming/slavery, is it right or
>>>wrong, etc...]
>>
>>
>> How about feelings? Logic is not the only thing that drives us. If we
>> didn't have feelings we would all be socipats.
>
> But, do feelings and emotions not have a logical and reasonable
>basis? Are they not designed to direct us towards goals? Procreation?
>Self-preservation? Attainment of wealth? I maintain that emotions ARE
>designed logically, just designed generally on an unconscious level hence
>we are sometimes unable to see the reasoning behind them.
What do you mean by "designed logically"?
Are you conflating evolution with logical design?
On this point, I agree with what Sir Julian Huxley wrote:
"The purpose manifested in evolution is only an apparent purpose. It is as
much a product of blind forces as is the falling of a stone to earth or the
ebb and flow of the tides. It is we who have read purpose into evolution,
as earlier
men projected will and emotion into inorganic phenomena like storm or
earthquake. If we wish to work towards a purpose for the future of man, we
must formulate that purpose ourselves. Purposes in life are made, not found
... "
"People who brandish naturalistic principles at us are usually up to
mischief", warns biologist Sir Peter Medawar, in _The Future Of Man_. He
points out the danger of using "naturalistic" or biological arguments to
attempt to set
up values:
"...Our policies and intentions are not to be based upon the supposition
that Nature knows best; that we are at the mercy of natural laws, and flout
them at our peril. It is a profound truth ... that Nature does not know
best; that
genetical evolution, if we choose to look at it liverishly instead of with
fatuous good humor, is a story of waste, makeshift, compromise and
blunder."
Romana Machado romana@glamazon.com
erotic site: http://www.glamazon.com/ "Romana Machado's Peek of the Week"
personal site: http://www.fqa.com/romana/ "Romana Machado World Headquarters"
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