Alexiev wrote: ↑Tue Sep 16, 2025 4:00 pm
Veritas Aequitas wrote: ↑Sun Sep 14, 2025 8:05 am
popeye1945 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 12, 2025 3:58 pm
All fears are the fear of death, and any derivative can be linked back to the primary fear of death. Your thoughts?
It goes further than that.
Empirically, it is evident there is a biological teleonomic drive to preserve the species.
To do do, all living species [so human species] are 'programmed' [DNA wise] with the following;
- the drive for reproduction of the next generation
- the fear of death, very strongly within reproductive age, tapering pass that,
this two primal drives are to facilitate the preservation of the species.
The above is such that each individual carry the responsibility to ensure the survival of the species which is very forceful, tsunamic so to say within the individual's psychic.
This fear of death is fundamental and it is one of the force that drives all human activities from the subliminal level.
With self-awareness and so awareness of inevitable mortality there is a potential paralysis of life from this very powerful tsunamic force -the primal fear of death. Fortunately, humans are adapted with
inhibitors to modulate this forceful fear of death. That is why we don't hear of everyone fearing death all the time but only at times and when triggered by thoughts or sight of death.
As with human nature, there are degrees to the effectiveness of the
inhibitors to suppress the fear of death. Those who have severe damage or weak inhibitors end up with thanatophobia a mental illness that need psychiatric help.
Point is, all philosophical views of members here are subjected to the fear of death; with theists highly influenced by it thus needing salvation to soothe the pains from the fear of death. Philosophical realists clinging to an absolutely mind-independent reality are also highly affected by the forces of these primal fear of death.
Wokeism is another lot who are highly affected by the fear of death to the extent some will kill those who do not agree with them [nb: Charlie Kirk].
Those in the know [many philosophical anti-realists] of the above facts strive to improve the efficacy of their inhibitors, so that they can be modulated to improve their well-being optimally.
The notion that there is some "programmed" drive to "facilitate the preservation of the species" is belied by history, biology and genetics. Are the Israelis driven to "preserve the species" when they slaughter Palestinians? How about the Germans in the Holocaust? How about male lions, who kill the lion cubs fathered by others when they take over a pride of lionesses?
IN fact, members of a species compete most directly with each other for scarce resources. They eat the same food, farm the same land, and mate with the same potential parents. Because they are so alike, they compete more directly with members of their species than with members of any other. Hence a long history of violence.
In addition, genetic "success" is sometimes facilitated by death -- if you can save three of your siblings by an altruistic act that kills you, you will facilitate your genetic "success" more effectively than saving yourself and allowing them to die.
Also, the notion that animals are "programmed" by their genes is problematic. Nature vs. nurture is inevitably an unresolvable issue -- both are doubtless involved in behavior.
Here are the basic points:
Google AI wrote:Teleonomic preservation of a species refers to the apparent purposefulness of structures and functions that an organism has evolved to ensure its survival and the continuation of its species. It is an outcome of natural processes, particularly natural selection, rather than a conscious, intentional goal.
This concept can be broken down into three key aspects:
Teleonomy vs. Teleology: The term teleonomy was coined to distinguish biological, goal-directed behavior from teleology, which implies a conscious, predetermined purpose or divine intention. For example, the teleonomic explanation for a bird's migration is that it is governed by an inherited genetic program, whereas a teleological explanation would suggest the bird consciously decides to migrate to a warmer climate.
Mechanisms of preservation: The "preservation of the species" is not a conscious objective pursued by the organism. Instead, it is the result of underlying genetic programs and evolutionary adaptations. Natural selection favors individuals with traits that increase their chances of survival and reproductive success. Over time, these advantageous traits become common in the population, giving the impression that the species is purposefully striving for survival.
Focus on adaptive traits: All traits that increase an organism's fitness—including complex behaviors, physiological functions, and physical structures—can be described as teleonomic because they contribute to the overarching "goal" of reproductive success. For example, an animal's ability to locate food, escape predators, or attract a mate are all teleonomic traits that promote its individual survival, and by extension, the survival of its species.
In summary, "teleonomic preservation of the species" is a way of describing the fundamental, non-conscious purpose that drives all life: to pass on genetic material to the next generation and ensure the long-term continuation of the lineage.
Empirical evidence check:
Is there any research to support the point that there are species that emerged with the direction to be extinct immediately?
No! so my point with species preservation is valid and sound.
"Empirically, it is evident there is a biological teleonomic drive to preserve the species.
To do do, all living species [so human species] are 'programmed' [DNA wise] with the following;
1. - the drive for reproduction of the next generation
2. - the fear of death, very strongly within reproductive age, tapering pass that,
this two primal drives are to facilitate the preservation of the species."
With 2, i.e. the fear of death, and to ensure being alive, all humans are 'programed' with the following drives:
i. the
4Fs - Fight, Flight, Food, F.ck [fornication or the sex drive].
ii. to ensure access to food, all humans are 'programmed' with the ability '
to kill' plus also for self-defense purposes.
As with human natures, outliers [mutations] from the majority are critical to facilitate survival of the species as well.
Being fallible and imperfect, some of these outliers [10% = 800+ million] has the wrong wirings and got perverted, psychopathy and the like.
As such, the extremes of killing in wars, genocide, homicides, and other forms of violence are a perversion of the norm.
But to ensure preservation of the species, nature operate and reduce risk with reliance on large numbers.
In addition, to counter the above all humans are also programmed with the moral potential [unfolding slowly at present]. Note this evolving trend:
The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined is a 2011 book by Steven Pinker, in which the author argues that violence in the world has declined both in the long run and in the short run and suggests explanations as to why this has occurred.[1] The book uses data documenting declining violence across time and geography. This paints a picture of massive declines in the violence of all forms, from war, to improved treatment of children.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bette ... Our_Nature
It is evident despite WW I and II plus so many wars, plagues, pandemics, catastrophe since humans emerged, the human population has exploded thus securing the survival of the human species as programmed teleonomically.
There is a nuance point to the above [separate subject], but the main point here is, it counters your view that there is a contradiction to my thesis.