Comments on: The Future is Now! http://www.centertao.org/blog/2009/10/19/the-future-is-now/ taoism, taoist thought, buddha, yoga, tai chi, shakuhachi, Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:38:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Carl Abbott http://www.centertao.org/blog/2009/10/19/the-future-is-now/comment-page-1/#comment-2831 Carl Abbott Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:56:43 +0000 http://www.centertao.org/?p=3388#comment-2831 The 'bottle neck effect' is what happens evolutionarily when a few individuals become cut off from the main group and their evolution happens according to the new circumstances in which they find themselves. All the factors you mention, ideology, music, hair color, etc., are the result of some form of bottle neck (isolation in time and space). It is becoming impossible to be truly isolated for the generations necessary to evolve differentiation. <br><br>The natural conditions for 'unity' are greater than those for 'division'. Never-the-less, the biological instinct to 'divide' still beats within us.<br><br>The question is, how will that play out in the future? My post offered some points to ponder. We are altering the evolutionary conditions species usually undergo in ways never before possible before the age of electricity began about 100 years ago. <br><br>Previously, there was plenty of external challenges to occupy mind, emotion, and body. As those diminish (thanks to electric revolution) that 'energy' must find and outlet. I'm guessing that the internal challenge will mark the next 10,000 years of human history. <br><br>Of course, if we blow ourselves up and only a handful of people are left, normal evolutionary forces will return... for awhile until we 'conquer' nature again. ;-) The 'bottle neck effect' is what happens evolutionarily when a few individuals become cut off from the main group and their evolution happens according to the new circumstances in which they find themselves. All the factors you mention, ideology, music, hair color, etc., are the result of some form of bottle neck (isolation in time and space). It is becoming impossible to be truly isolated for the generations necessary to evolve differentiation.

The natural conditions for 'unity' are greater than those for 'division'. Never-the-less, the biological instinct to 'divide' still beats within us.

The question is, how will that play out in the future? My post offered some points to ponder. We are altering the evolutionary conditions species usually undergo in ways never before possible before the age of electricity began about 100 years ago.

Previously, there was plenty of external challenges to occupy mind, emotion, and body. As those diminish (thanks to electric revolution) that 'energy' must find and outlet. I'm guessing that the internal challenge will mark the next 10,000 years of human history.

Of course, if we blow ourselves up and only a handful of people are left, normal evolutionary forces will return… for awhile until we 'conquer' nature again. ;-)

]]> By: Lynn C. http://www.centertao.org/blog/2009/10/19/the-future-is-now/comment-page-1/#comment-2830 Lynn C. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:42:50 +0000 http://www.centertao.org/?p=3388#comment-2830 I don't know if I agree with this or not. Couldn't cultures just split off into individual groups based on ideology, religion, favorite music, hair color, instead of the split being within the individual? Are you saying that with more information and communication, fractionalizing wouldn't happen, even though belief is more driven by emotion?<br><br>I don't know what you mean by the bottle neck effect. I don't know if I agree with this or not. Couldn't cultures just split off into individual groups based on ideology, religion, favorite music, hair color, instead of the split being within the individual? Are you saying that with more information and communication, fractionalizing wouldn't happen, even though belief is more driven by emotion?

I don't know what you mean by the bottle neck effect.

]]>