Quote by Michael Crichton, The Lost World
What makes you think that human beings are sentient and aware? There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told - and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their beliefs. The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is a self-congratulatory delusion.
Summary
This quote suggests that the belief in human beings being sentient and aware is unfounded as there is no evidence to support it. The author argues that humans rarely think for themselves and instead rely on the ideas presented to them, becoming uncomfortable when exposed to different perspectives. They further claim that conformity, rather than awareness, is the defining characteristic of our species, and this conformity often leads to religious warfare. The author also posits that human behavior is driven by beliefs, which may be detrimental considering the current global challenges we face. Ultimately, they conclude that any view of humanity as aware and conscious is self-deceptive.
Topics
Humanity
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