What is driving the will to exist?

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The forum discussion centers on the intrinsic drive of living organisms to exist and perpetuate their species, with references to Darwin's theory of evolution. Participants argue that what appears to be altruism is often a manifestation of selfishness, as actions taken for the benefit of others ultimately serve the individual's interests. The conversation highlights that evolution operates through random mutations without a conscious drive or intent, emphasizing that survival mechanisms are not driven by a higher purpose but rather by natural selection and environmental adaptation.

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  • Familiarity with natural selection and random mutation concepts
  • Knowledge of altruism versus selfishness in behavioral science
  • Basic comprehension of biological mechanisms driving survival instincts
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This discussion is beneficial for evolutionary biologists, psychologists studying human behavior, and anyone interested in the philosophical implications of existence and survival in living organisms.

  • #31
GreatEscapist said:
Well, yeah, nowadays there are. But if we weren't so pampered by society today, an instinct would be to reproduce.

So, let me see if I've got this right - the world we live in nowadays is artificial and not really valid, and this other world you speak of is somehow a better yardstick of humanity and more valid?
 
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  • #32
Validity of social standards aside, unless I'm mistaken; the will to reproduce (or exist) and the instict to reproduce (or exist) are two separate things. I think most people have sensed the instinct to reproduce indepent of any will.
 
  • #33
DaveC426913 said:
So, let me see if I've got this right - the world we live in nowadays is artificial and not really valid, and this other world you speak of is somehow a better yardstick of humanity and more valid?

*sighs* Things I say never come out right.

Noooo, no. We just have a lot more comfort nowadays, and I think we all know we CAN reproduce, at almost anytime we want. It's not as big of a priority- as evidenced by people that wait till later in life to have children.

This world exists. :P
 
  • #34
GreatEscapist said:
*sighs* Things I say never come out right.

Noooo, no. We just have a lot more comfort nowadays, and I think we all know we CAN reproduce, at almost anytime we want. It's not as big of a priority- as evidenced by people that wait till later in life to have children.

This world exists. :P

Also, this is where you started out:

GreatEscapist said:
I believe that the will to exist is first to reproduce.


It's not so much that we have "comfort" these days as we have birth control. We're probably having as much sex as frequently as in any olden days of yore.

There is no 'drive to reproduce' . The humans with strong sex drives had the most sex, therefore they produced the most offspring. Those offspring most likely shared that characteristic. Now, though, we can control the offspring part, but I don't think the sex-having bit has reduced.
 
  • #35
GeorginaS said:
There is no 'drive to reproduce'.

:rolleyes:
Um, are you sure?
 
  • #36
GreatEscapist said:
:rolleyes:
Um, are you sure?

If sex were painful do you think we'd ever have to worry about over population?
 

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