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Originally Posted by Pearl Trade
Baraka, do you think adaptation and evolution are different? I believe they are the same, if you adapt to a change in your environment and you like where that led you, you will stay there. Evolution is the same way, we just can't control it (yet).
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Adaptation is a function of evolution. Evolution is the term we use to describe the changes within a species over time. Adaptation is a measure of a species' capacity to deal with environmental change. The traits that have allowed a species to survive is what shapes its evolution. Look at the differences between a lion and a human. There are many differences in how we respond to our environments. If you take a lion out of its natural habitat, or if you remove its access to its main food source, it will likely die. Do the same to a human and its chances of survival are greater. However, lions have evolved into proficient and deadly hunters. You will also notice that they sleep for long periods of time---up to 20 hours a day, apparently. None of this is random. One theory explains that lions need to conserve their energy in between the times they go without food.
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On another point you made, you said you have become more aware because of news, movies, and literature. But how much of the population takes advantage of these knowledge outlets? We all watch movies, but do we actually gain anything from them besides "that movie was great"? To gain knowledge of what you've read or seen, you must think about it. When I read, whether it be a novel or newspaper, I stop to think about what I just read rather than only seeing words on paper. This is something I fear the majority of people aren't doing. We're becoming the "mindless mass", taking in information at an extraordinary level but not retaining or thinking about it.
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I wouldn't underestimate the power of the human brain. The benefit we get from a steady exposure to film, literature, newspapers, etc, does not require an active stop-and-think; however, I will say that there is much more you can get out of these things if you do. The human subconscious is an incredible thing, and I'm constantly surprising myself in terms of being able to make connections and leaps based on certain triggers that bring things I've consumed to the fore.
The problem isn't that many people are incapable of critical thought; I think the problem is that they have no motivation to think critically. They're complacent and don't feel that anything is at risk. If you light a fire under them, then you might be surprised. However, the danger always remains where people get swept up into herd mentality, which tends to happen when a fire is lit under several people at once. This is a substantial difference.
People are social beings, and so find commonalities to confirm their own desires and fears. It's when you isolate them and put them to the test that you might get what you're referring to.
This doesn't say anything about the outright ignorant. I'm referring to those who "should know better" based on their education and exposure to social issues, art, media, and the like.
It's such a complex issue that I don't want to derail too much from the OP.