Stop worshipping biology

[Life sucks]

I really want to say that biology (including biological evolution) is overestimated. Its not a god or supernatural power that people should use as an excuse.

Humans don't even follow their biology and body impulses. The power of the brain (which is essentially a form of computation) lets humans to control and even manipulate their own bodies. You don't see people shit immediately but toilets are invented and used. Body manipulation happens everywhere, for example, people go to the gym and build their muscles in an intended way.

There is no supernatural power that tells people to reproduce or become prolifers. Genes doesn't "tell" anything and the way it works is very different. Its not a superpower that forces one to do something. Humans should stop justifying suffering and bad life because of "genes", "biological evolution", "biology".

Humans opposed biology all the time and justifying horrible things because of biology is absurd. Biology is always misused to justify the cruel actions and the arrogance of the humans. Nowadays, most humans study for one or two decades and all of the necessary knowledge is available but they choose to ignore it so there is no excuse.

The brain is a biological tool but it doesn't mean that the results it makes is restricted by biology. Its not. When someone performs an arithmetic operation, the hardware is biological but arithmetic itself and the output are not. So generally humans could easily oppose biology with their brain capabilities.

Also biology isn't the core of everything.
Biology < Chemistry
Biology < Physics
Biology < Math

Additionally, the universe is vast and the whole biology (and biological evolution) are nothing in comparison.

Free yourself from those chains. Oppose biology, support pro-choice, reduce the suffering and don't justify it. Biology and biological evolution is wrong and atrocious and shouldn't be glorified at all.

 

[stygal]

It's easier said than done I think.
You brought up the example of having to shit...but you only could hold it in for so long until your body takes over.
Basic impulses always "win" in the end.
If sex wasn't "forced" on to us by our hormones more people could withstand the need to have it and definitely wouldn't reproduce (I believe most babies are more or less created unintentional).
Survival Instinct and the fear of death make even depressed people cling on to life.

The brain is also part of this biological cycle...I'd love to think there's more to it or that we had free will but I'm honestly starting to doubt that and it could also be seen as "arrogant" to feel like we are more than very intelligent apes.

Yes, we can perform arithmetic operations...but what's the driving force behind them: either to make our life's easier -> being able to make our selfs and our species survive longer or understand our surroundings better -> finding some sort of meaning in our lives to keep on living happily and keep on going.

Antinatalism seems to be just another believe system one has established based on a hostile or unwelcoming environment and bad prior experiences.
(I'm an Antinatalist too but sadly wouldn't say I'm above biology)

 

[EmbraceOfTheVoid]

I agree, for whatever reason normal people think the human body is some kind of grand trophy on a pedestal but it's still susceptible to all kinds of diseases and requires constant maintenance so it doesn't break down. In the past I've thought of how traumatic events have ruined my life and kept my nervous system in a constant state of fight, flight, freeze which goes to show that evolution cannot cope/didn't account for the terrible things that humans do to one another.

And you're right, people tend to use biology as an excuse for all kinds of cruel, immoral, and repulsive behavior as if they're entirely like animals. Human beings have the ability to think, rationalize, and choose up to a point but it seems like most people simply don't care about how their actions affect others. It's very similar to when people use "mental illness" as an excuse to absolve themselves of abusive behavior.

"The concept of disease is fast replacing the concept of responsibility. With increasing zeal Americans use and interpret the assertion "I am sick" as equivalent to the assertion "I am not responsible": Smokers say they are not responsible for smoking, drinkers that they are not responsible for drinking, gamblers that they are not responsible for gambling, and mothers who murder their infants that they are not responsible for killing. To prove their point — and to capitalize on their self-destructive and destructive behavior — smokers, drinkers, gamblers, and insanity acquitees are suing tobacco companies, liquor companies, gambling casinos, and physicians." ―Thomas Stephen Szasz

 

[Amumu]

Humans should stop justifying suffering and bad life because of "genes", "biological evolution", "biology".

Only sentence I disagree with. Your genes can ruin your life, e.g. genetic diseases, mental illnesses, ugliness, deformities...

 

[SuicidallyCurious]

I agree, for whatever reason normal people think the human body is some kind of grand trophy on a pedestal but it's still susceptible to all kinds of diseases and requires constant maintenance so it doesn't break down. In the past I've thought of how traumatic events have ruined my life and kept my nervous system in a constant state of fight, flight, freeze which goes to show that evolution cannot cope/didn't account for the terrible things that humans do to one another.

And you're right, people tend to use biology as an excuse for all kinds of cruel, immoral, and repulsive behavior as if they're entirely like animals. Human beings have the ability to think, rationalize, and choose up to a point but it seems like most people simply don't care about how their actions affect others. It's very similar to when people use "mental illness" as an excuse to absolve themselves of abusive behavior.

Great post. In the US and many countries it's even legal to murder your own baby. No wonder so many want to CTB!

 

[EmbraceOfTheVoid]

Only sentence I disagree with. Your genes can ruin your life, e.g. genetic diseases, mental illnesses, ugliness, deformities...

Your genes definitely influence your life from the very beginning especially if they are handicaps like the ones you've mentioned.

 

[DivineMedicus]

I'm curious, do you subscribe to the belief that we possess free will, that we have the capacity to ignore the fine-tuning operations ceaselessly imposed on us by the brain?

I don't think we are above biology. Afawk, there are no mechanisms that could possibly allow for any sapient organism to develop any semblance of free will. All of our actions/behaviours are synthesized by precise firing of neurons in a systematic fashion, and these firing patterns we shall dub as "schemas", if you will. These schemas are highly dependent on the information that is digested/procured by the brain, such as stimuli or memories. Certain schemas will be repeated over and over again, perhaps due to the environment providing the brain with the exact same information set. They will inevitably define your personality, and influence your behaviours/actions, and you can't really do much about it other than obey your brain. There is no such thing as "you"; "You" are just a set of schemas, nothing more, nothing less.

I think suicidal thoughts/behaviours are simply emergent from a particular schema that has developed after having processed so many environmental stresses. We do not know what "function" exists which fabricates a schema out of stimuli (that is, we do not know how a certain stimulus corresponds to the activation of a set of neurons), and perhaps we are not meant to know. Afaik, I am just obeying my brain's "desire" to commit CTB, and I don't feel terrible nor great about it, because it makes no difference.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I think humans do have the ability to take minor stabs at biology, for example some eat spicy food which evolved in some plants as a means to PREVENT them from being eaten. Impulses can also be shunned with great discipline and self-control, something that many humans unfortunately just do not have. Just as it's unfair to use biology as an excuse for all horrible acts, I think it's also unfair to expect every human machine to suddenly be able to have the willpower to rise up and go against their programming just because other people tell them to.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm just not strong enough to go against the very urges nature gave me. No matter how I try, I can't make myself want to stop wanting. I would guess that many other humans are the same.

 

[oneanonymous]

Don't tell people to stop believing something because you don't want to believe it.
There is far more evidence that supports the opposite of your argument, so I'll stick with that for now.

 

[lost_soul83]

I really want to say that biology (including biological evolution) is overestimated. Its not a god or supernatural power that people should use as an excuse.

Humans don't even follow their biology and body impulses. The power of the brain (which is essentially a form of computation) lets humans to control and even manipulate their own bodies. You don't see people shit immediately but toilets are invented and used. Body manipulation happens everywhere, for example, people go to the gym and build their muscles in an intended way.

There is no supernatural power that tells people to reproduce or become prolifers. Genes doesn't "tell" anything and the way it works is very different. Its not a superpower that forces one to do something. Humans should stop justifying suffering and bad life because of "genes", "biological evolution", "biology".

Humans opposed biology all the time and justifying horrible things because of biology is absurd. Biology is always misused to justify the cruel actions and the arrogance of the humans. Nowadays, most humans study for one or two decades and all of the necessary knowledge is available but they choose to ignore it so there is no excuse.

The brain is a biological tool but it doesn't mean that the results it makes is restricted by biology. Its not. When someone performs an arithmetic operation, the hardware is biological but arithmetic itself and the output are not. So generally humans could easily oppose biology with their brain capabilities.

Also biology isn't the core of everything.
Biology < Chemistry
Biology < Physics
Biology < Math

Additionally, the universe is vast and the whole biology (and biological evolution) are nothing in comparison.

Free yourself from those chains. Oppose biology, support pro-choice, reduce the suffering and don't justify it. Biology and biological evolution is wrong and atrocious and shouldn't be glorified at all.

I see your point however biology, more specifically genetics, plays a HUGE roll in what type of human being you are, what you suffer from, struggle with. Although you do have some control over becoming depressed or an addict, genetics still plays a large part in ending up that way. It's "the deck is stacked against you," kinda thing. This is only my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but there are many people, including professionals, that agree with this theory.

 

[Frauw]

You forget that the core trait of every human is being selfish. Humans do things for themselves, not at the credence of others.

 

[reticen]

I can see you are in big denial. Or just an uniformed opinionated person.

 

[Neowise]

As someone who is studying biology at university (Master's) I don't think the theory of evolution is garbage, it exists and you can prove that in a petri dish in just a few minutes. However, evolution needs several generations to take effect so humans blaming crap on their evolutionary background is dumb, I agree. Even though you didn't specify what cruel actions you were talking about I think that people should take responsibilities for their actions and not blame it on whatever. Genes can fuck you up though as people have already mentioned out.

Humans don't even follow their biology and body impulses. The power of the brain (which is essentially a form of computation) lets humans to control and even manipulate their own bodies. You don't see people shit immediately but toilets are invented and used. Body manipulation happens everywhere, for example, people go to the gym and build their muscles in an intended way.

I don't get this part. Why would the brain not let us manipulate our own bodies? Going to the gym to build more muscle mass doesn't neccessarily mean we are above biology. Usually people do that to be more attractive. Or going to the toilet... cats can use a toilet, they don't shit on the floor whenever they want either. I've seen a video of a budgie sticking coloured paper strips between it's feathers to be more beautiful. What's your point?
We do have a free will, and so do the more intelligent animals. We still have our instincts though, for example if a building is burning everyone runs outside. Fear of fire is an instinct every living being has. A bug will flee just like a cat or a human, nobody will jump into the fire and roll around in joy.
I really don't get your point in this part.

So generally humans could easily oppose biology with their brain capabilities.

Humans are opposing biology already. We are propbably the least instinct driven species out there. But we are no robots, we still have our uncontrollable sides so I wouldn't say we can fully oppose biology easily.

Biology < Chemistry
Biology < Physics
Biology < Math

Biology consists of chemistry, correct.
Biology consists of physics, correct.
But maths are a human made science. Maths have nothing to do with biology. At least I have never seen a cell calculate with imaginary numbers and draw graphs.

Additionally, the universe is vast and the whole biology (and biological evolution) are nothing in comparison.

Yes, the universe is vast. But everything that lives is made out of biology. Again, what is your point?

Free yourself from those chains. Oppose biology, support pro-choice, reduce the suffering and don't justify it. Biology and biological evolution is wrong and atrocious and shouldn't be glorified at all.

Approving biology and supporting pro-choice aren't mutually exclusive, look at me for example. Every living creature has a survival instinct (nobody jumps off a bridge just for fun because they were bored), but that doesn't make you a pro-lifer. You become a pro-lifer because of your beliefs, not because of your biology.
Biological evolution is not wrong as it can easily be proven. Whether it has been created by a god or not is a different question, but evolution itself is a thing. Inform yourself.

 

[Captive of Mind]

I really want to say that biology (including biological evolution) is overestimated. Its not a god or supernatural power that people should use as an excuse.

Humans don't even follow their biology and body impulses. The power of the brain (which is essentially a form of computation) lets humans to control and even manipulate their own bodies. You don't see people shit immediately but toilets are invented and used. Body manipulation happens everywhere, for example, people go to the gym and build their muscles in an intended way.

There is no supernatural power that tells people to reproduce or become prolifers. Genes doesn't "tell" anything and the way it works is very different. Its not a superpower that forces one to do something. Humans should stop justifying suffering and bad life because of "genes", "biological evolution", "biology".

Humans opposed biology all the time and justifying horrible things because of biology is absurd. Biology is always misused to justify the cruel actions and the arrogance of the humans. Nowadays, most humans study for one or two decades and all of the necessary knowledge is available but they choose to ignore it so there is no excuse.

The brain is a biological tool but it doesn't mean that the results it makes is restricted by biology. Its not. When someone performs an arithmetic operation, the hardware is biological but arithmetic itself and the output are not. So generally humans could easily oppose biology with their brain capabilities.

Also biology isn't the core of everything.
Biology < Chemistry
Biology < Physics
Biology < Math

Additionally, the universe is vast and the whole biology (and biological evolution) are nothing in comparison.

Free yourself from those chains. Oppose biology, support pro-choice, reduce the suffering and don't justify it. Biology and biological evolution is wrong and atrocious and shouldn't be glorified at all.

So which component of your thought process is formed outside of your brain? Even when people are able to act in opposition to their instincts, doesn't that come down to the fact that they have a brain capable of doing so?

There are many things that I've tried very hard to change about myself, but my brain simply didn't have what was necessary to do so. If it did have what was necessary, I wasn't able to access it due to my situation in life. You have to acknowledge the staggering amount of factors that make you who you are which you have no control over.

 

[WornOutLife]

Additionally, the universe is vast and the whole biology (and biological evolution) are nothing in comparison.

I really agree with this part. The universe is so vast! I mean, how much do we really know?
Anyway, I think Charles Darwin research has been awesome.

 

[262653]

Humans don't even follow their biology and body impulses. The power of the brain (which is essentially a form of computation) lets humans to control and even manipulate their own bodies. You don't see people shit immediately but toilets are invented and used. Body manipulation happens everywhere, for example, people go to the gym and build their muscles in an intended way.

I think that rational brain, or cognition, or whatever, is ultimately a bitch to other forces. It's a planner, an advisor, but not the king. The drive behind the inventions could be the energy conservation, for example. It seems to be more convenient to create and maintain the sewer system than to get out of the apartment every time one has to take a dump, or take a dump in special containers and then dispose of them manually.
Just as people might go to the gym (I don't know all the individual motivations, so I'll present what seems to be the most common ones) to look prettier and improve personal mating prospects, getting more imposing and dominant, improve health which positively affects survival, mating and reproduction.

I do think that biology argument doesn't unambiguously support the promotion of life, and that suicide, for example, is not any more or less natural or in accordance with our biology, than survival.

In the past I've thought of how traumatic events have ruined my life and kept my nervous system in a constant state of fight, flight, freeze which goes to show that evolution cannot cope/didn't account for the terrible things that humans do to one another.

+. Evolution, biology or nature, they don't seem to give a damn, and they don't always know better. Put an animal in a cage with no provision and it will eventually get to experience hunger. Biology doesn't give a slightest fuck if there is no food available aside from the caged animal and metal bars, the order is given, and you better fulfill the quota, or you will feel pain ever increasing in magnitude. When a person gets insulted over the internet and feels bad, there might be no actual danger but body might react like there is, and then it will mobilize resources (stress response) to deal with the phantom threat, even though it's a better idea not to stress out.

Evolution works, but I feel resentful over the levels of misery it allows to be. (Personification of evolution. Kinda weird. This is so animal. All kinds of animals seem to be able to identify the objects to eat, to be afraid of and run away, to court, to team up with, and other behaviors. Humans feel to me like animals with big brains. The same emotions and behaviors, but cognition allows to identify "objects" like evolution, nature, nervous system, communism, pro-life stance, etc..)