[ExI] Going beyond EP

[The Avantguardian]

--- Joshua Cowan <jcowan5 at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Samantha wrote:
> 
> >This line of reasoning has considerable dark side
> potential.  We can  and 
> >do go beyond our EP in at least some ways.
> 
> I'm quite interested in this thought.
> 
> In which ways do you believe we go beyond our EP and
> are there common 
> factors that determine when humanity is able to
> transcend its evolutionary 
> psychology?

It has been experimentally determined that human
infants develop a fear of heights *before* they are
even able to crawl around. This is pretty good
evidence that there is something instinctual about the
fear of heights. Considering that numerous humans
routinely fly around in jet planes at mach 2, sky
dive, rock climb, bungie cord, and walk on tightropes,
I would say that it is a safe bet that many aspects of
EP can be transcended if one is willing. To paraphrase
Neitszche, evolutionary psychology is something to be
overcome.

> I'd love any references to written works
> that specifically 
> address this question.

Here is a handy reference that starting on page 30
discusses both the fear of heights and refutes the
fallacy of genetic determinism:

http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/research/cep/papers/bussconceptual05.pdf



Stuart LaForge
alt email: stuart"AT"ucla.edu

"When an old man dies, an entire library is destroyed." - Ugandan proverb


       
____________________________________________________________________________________Luggage? GPS? Comic books? 
Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search
http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=graduation+gifts&cs=bz