URF8
08-03-2012, 12:14 PM
Human consciousness is different than human intelligence. The latter is a matter of biochemistry, anatomy and physical evolution. That subject is beyond my understanding. But anyone interested in the subject of the evolution of human intelligence might want to check out Carl Sagan's 1977 book The Dragon's Of Eden. It's a good read and won the Pulitzer Prize.
There have been a number of species of hominids that have had some measure of intelligence. Our own species is like the last man standing. Our intellectual capabilities have remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years, or so I have read. The evolution of human consciousness is, in my view, a matter of the change and adaptation of existing intellectual capabilities based on perception and experience.
According to my understanding cannibalism was once not uncommon in human societies around the world. I'm not talking about cannibalism for survival in exigent circumstances. I'm referring to the cultural practice of cannibalism. With the possible exceptions of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya I am not aware of any human society that currently observes cannibalism as a cultural norm. How did these many human societies over time come to the conclusion that such norms were wrong? I don't know.
Similarly many societies from the middle east to mesoamerica practiced human sacrifice for centuries. Mexica/Aztec theology was based on massive human sacrifice. Have you seen Mel Gibson's movie Apocalypto? The practice of human sacrifice as shown in the movie is based on historical fact.
Have you ever read James Michener's book The Source? Among other things, the book uses the historical fiction genre to explore the religious practice of human sacrifice among ancient societies in the Levant. It was in this book that first encountered the god Baal who demanded the sacrifice of children.
I understand the rise of monotheism among the Hebrew descendants of Abraham and the eventual displacement of Baal, Dagon, Ishtar, et al. But what was it that led to the leap of consciousness that human sacrifice was wrong? Do you remember the Old Testament story of Abraham and the intervention of the angel sent by Yahweh to stay Abraham's hand before he could bring the knife down on his son? The story reflects a change in human perception...a change in consciousness. Why did that happen?
The same is true of the practice of human slavery. The trans-Atlantic slave trade came to an end because of a change in consciousness among those who ruled the British Empire. As a result of the control of the seas by the Royal Navy these people were able to impose their will on the trans-Atlantic slavers. What accounts for this change in consciousness? Was it a change in the interpretation of scripture? Did perception change as a result of the European Enlightenment? I don't know?
The pattern is repeated with the ideas of racial equality, gender equality, sexual orientation, disarmament, dietary practices, and even environmentalism before it became quasi-religious and quasi-corporate. What changes in consciousness might the future bring? I don't know. And what, if any, are the limitations on the evolution of human consciousness on both the societal and individual levels? I have many questions, but few answers.
One thing I do know is that it is possible for individuals to recognize the existence of a higher level of consciousness without being able to embrace it. The old bull Cape Buffalo gazes across the river, sees that the grass is greener on the other bank, but knows it can never cross the river. The river is full of crocodiles.
There have been a number of species of hominids that have had some measure of intelligence. Our own species is like the last man standing. Our intellectual capabilities have remained unchanged for tens of thousands of years, or so I have read. The evolution of human consciousness is, in my view, a matter of the change and adaptation of existing intellectual capabilities based on perception and experience.
According to my understanding cannibalism was once not uncommon in human societies around the world. I'm not talking about cannibalism for survival in exigent circumstances. I'm referring to the cultural practice of cannibalism. With the possible exceptions of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya I am not aware of any human society that currently observes cannibalism as a cultural norm. How did these many human societies over time come to the conclusion that such norms were wrong? I don't know.
Similarly many societies from the middle east to mesoamerica practiced human sacrifice for centuries. Mexica/Aztec theology was based on massive human sacrifice. Have you seen Mel Gibson's movie Apocalypto? The practice of human sacrifice as shown in the movie is based on historical fact.
Have you ever read James Michener's book The Source? Among other things, the book uses the historical fiction genre to explore the religious practice of human sacrifice among ancient societies in the Levant. It was in this book that first encountered the god Baal who demanded the sacrifice of children.
I understand the rise of monotheism among the Hebrew descendants of Abraham and the eventual displacement of Baal, Dagon, Ishtar, et al. But what was it that led to the leap of consciousness that human sacrifice was wrong? Do you remember the Old Testament story of Abraham and the intervention of the angel sent by Yahweh to stay Abraham's hand before he could bring the knife down on his son? The story reflects a change in human perception...a change in consciousness. Why did that happen?
The same is true of the practice of human slavery. The trans-Atlantic slave trade came to an end because of a change in consciousness among those who ruled the British Empire. As a result of the control of the seas by the Royal Navy these people were able to impose their will on the trans-Atlantic slavers. What accounts for this change in consciousness? Was it a change in the interpretation of scripture? Did perception change as a result of the European Enlightenment? I don't know?
The pattern is repeated with the ideas of racial equality, gender equality, sexual orientation, disarmament, dietary practices, and even environmentalism before it became quasi-religious and quasi-corporate. What changes in consciousness might the future bring? I don't know. And what, if any, are the limitations on the evolution of human consciousness on both the societal and individual levels? I have many questions, but few answers.
One thing I do know is that it is possible for individuals to recognize the existence of a higher level of consciousness without being able to embrace it. The old bull Cape Buffalo gazes across the river, sees that the grass is greener on the other bank, but knows it can never cross the river. The river is full of crocodiles.