If God is fake, why did humans create such an evil God? PART 7

12 min readMar 13, 2024

You

BASED ON THE VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR OF CHIMPANZEES, IS HUMAN NATURE ESSENTIALLY BAD

Copilot AI

The violent behavior of chimpanzees, as observed in various studies, is considered a part of their natural behavior1 2 3. However, it’s important to note that applying this observation to humans is not straightforward.

Human nature is a complex concept that comprises the fundamental dispositions and characteristics — including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting — that humans are said to have naturally4 5 6 7. It’s often used to denote the essence of humankind, or what it means to be human 4 5 6 7.

Theories about human nature form a part of every culture. In the West, one traditional question centered on whether humans are naturally selfish and competitive or social and altruistic 5. Recent research in genetics, evolutionary biology, and cultural anthropology suggests that there is a complex interaction between genetically inherited factors and developmental and social factors 5.

It’s also important to remember that humans, unlike chimpanzees, have developed complex societies and cultures that greatly influence behavior. While we share a common ancestor with chimpanzees, human evolution has taken a different path, leading to the development of unique human traits such as advanced reasoning, language, and morality.

Therefore, it’s not accurate or fair to label human nature as “essentially bad” based on the violent behavior observed in another species. Human behavior is influenced by a multitude of factors, including our environment, upbringing, culture, and individual experiences. It’s a spectrum that encompasses a wide range of behaviors, both positive and negative. It’s always best to consider a range of factors when assessing human behavior. Please consult with a professional for a comprehensive understanding.

Learn more

1 news.harvard.edu 2 livescience.com 3 bbc.co.uk 4 en.wikipedia.org 5 britannica.com 6 merriam-webster.com 7 dictionary.cambridge.org 8 livescience.com

You

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THEORIES OF HUMAN NATURE?

Copilot AI

Theories about human nature form a part of every culture and are a central focus of philosophy1 2. Here are some key theories:

1. Aristotle’s Teleology: Aristotle believed that human nature exists independently of individuals, causing humans to become what they become1. This perspective believes that nature itself has intentions and goals, including the goal for humanity to live naturally1.

2. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke: In the West, one traditional question centered on whether humans are naturally selfish and competitive 2. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were proponents of this view 2.

3. Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim: Another view is that humans are social and altruistic 2. Karl Marx and Émile Durkheim were proponents of this view 2.

4. Modernists: Modernists such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued for the relative malleability of man1. Rousseau wrote: “We do not know what our nature permits us to be”1.

5. Darwin, Freud, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Sartre: These thinkers have argued against a fixed or innate human nature1. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has particularly changed the shape of the discussion, supporting the proposition that the ancestors of modern humans were not like humans today1.

6. Bipartite Theory: The traditional conception of human nature is what we might call a “bipartite” theory or a “hybrid” theory: Man is, uniquely, a mixture of two distinct and contradictory tendencies: as a “rational animal,” the human is a compound of the material, biological and the rational or spiritual3.

These theories provide different perspectives on human nature, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s important to note that our understanding of human nature continues to evolve as we gain more insights from various fields such as genetics, evolutionary biology, and cultural anthropology 2.

Learn more

1 en.wikipedia.org 2 britannica.com 3 link.springer.com

You

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT ARISTOTLE’S TELEOLOGY THEORY?

Copilot AI

Aristotle’s teleology is a philosophical concept that suggests everything in nature has a purpose or end goal1 2 3. This is often summed up in the slogan “Nature does nothing in vain”3. Here are some key points about Aristotle’s teleology:

1. Invention of Teleology: Aristotle is commonly considered the inventor of teleology, although the precise term originated in the eighteenth century1. If teleology means the use of ends or goals in natural science, then Aristotle was rather a critical innovator of teleological explanation1.

2. Nature as an Internal Principle: Aristotle rejected the conception of extrinsic causes such as intelligence or god as the primary cause for natural things1. Instead, he considers nature itself as an internal principle of change and as an end1.

3. Focus on Intrinsic Good: Aristotle’s teleological explanations focus on what is intrinsically good for natural substances themselves1. His explanations in the works on nature make reference to the good of specific kinds of things — stars, elements, plants, animals, humans, families, and cities1.

4. Teleology in Biology: Teleology is central in Aristotle’s work on plant and animal biology 4. For Aristotle, teleological explanations explain how animal parts and behavior are ‘adapted’ to their environment, and not how the environment is adapted to the needs of animals or other organisms (including humans)5.

5. Constraints by Necessity: Aristotle’s teleology suggests that natural behavior and natural structure usually have final causes, but these are constrained by necessity: nature does the best she can ‘in the circumstances’3.

6. Criticism of Overarching Cosmic Good: Aristotle was wary of attempts to generalize about a generic, overall good, which he holds has little or no explanatory power 2.

Remember, while Aristotle’s teleology provides valuable insights into the purpose and end goals of natural substances, it is just one perspective in the comprehensive field of philosophy. Always consult with a professional for a complete understanding.

Learn more

1 academic.oup.com 2 ndpr.nd.edu 3 academic.oup.com 4 en.wikipedia.org 5 academic.oup.com 6 doi.org

You

CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THOMAS HOBBES’ THEORY OF HUMAN NATURE?

Copilot AI

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) was an English philosopher who is best known for his work in political and moral philosophy1 2 3 4 5. Here are some key points about Hobbes’ theory of human nature:

1. Materialist View of Human Nature: Hobbes believed that all phenomena in the universe, without exception, can be explained in terms of the motions and interactions of material bodies1. He did not believe in the soul, or in the mind as separate from the body1. Instead, he saw human beings as essentially machines, with even their thoughts and emotions operating according to physical laws and chains of cause and effect, action and reaction1.

2. Self-Interest and Fear: Hobbes’s description of the state of nature proposes that what human beings want above all is to preserve their lives and their goods, and what they fear above all is violence at the hands of others 3. This desire to preserve ourselves against the threat of violent death is the core of Hobbesian psychology 3.

3. State of Nature: Hobbes argues that the natural inequalities among human beings are not so great that one group can claim clear superiority over another5. This means that we must all live in fear of loss or conflict, and war is one of these risks5.

4. Rejection of Teleology: Hobbes rejects the teleological view of human nature as a false and dangerous illusion4. Instead, he sees human nature as the restless striving for power after power that has no end and therefore no happiness or perfection4.

5. Social Contract: Hobbes saw the commonwealth, or society, as a similar machine, larger than the human body and artificial but nevertheless operating according to the laws governing motion and collision1. He believed in the concept of a social contract, where individuals give up some of their freedoms and submit to an authority in return for protection of their remaining rights1.

It’s important to note that Hobbes’ views are just one perspective on human nature and have been both influential and controversial. Always consult with a professional for a complete understanding.

Learn more

1 sparknotes.com 2 academic.oup.com 3 thegreatthinkers.org 4 nlnrac.org 5 ponderingphilosopher.com 6 doi.org

ACCORDING TO EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHEN DID EITHER OUR APE ANCESTORS OR HOMO SAPIENS, HAVE THE CONSCIOUSNESS AND MIND TO CREATE RELIGION

Copilot AI

According to evolutionary psychologists, the development of consciousness and the capacity to create religion in our ancestors is a complex process that unfolded over millions of years. Here are some key points:

· Our closest living relatives, the common chimpanzees and bonobos, share a common ancestor with humans who lived between six and eight million years ago1. These primates exhibit some traits that would have been necessary for the evolution of religion, such as high intelligence, a capacity for symbolic communication, a sense of social norms, and realization of “self” continuity1.

· There is inconclusive evidence that Homo neanderthalensis may have buried their dead, which would be evidence of mortuary ritual1. The use of burial rituals is thought to be evidence of religious activity, but there is no other evidence that religion existed in human culture before humans reached behavioral modernity1.

· Excluding sparse and controversial evidence in the Middle Paleolithic (300,000–50,000 years ago), religion emerged with certainty in the Upper Paleolithic around 50,000 years ago2.

· It seems that the progeny between mitochondrial Eve/Y chromosome Adam (200,000 years ago) and their progeny who were invested with abstract and syntactical linguistic ability (70,000 years ago) did not seem to do anything more significant than use stone tools, live in community, and hunt in tandem — and then suddenly, after 130,000 years, an explosion of language, discovery, religion, symbolism, art, and geographical exploration occurred3.

Belief, which is often associated with religion, is the ability to combine histories and experiences with imagination, to think beyond the here and now4. This ability enables humans to see, feel, and know an idea that is not immediately present to the senses, then wholly invest in making that idea one’s reality4.

Please note that these are broad generalizations and the exact timeline can vary based on different interpretations and discoveries. The development of consciousness and the creation of religion are complex processes that likely involved many factors and occurred gradually over a long period of time.

Learn more

1 en.wikipedia.org 2 en.wikipedia.org 3 magiscenter.com 4 sapiens.org 5 bbc.com

1of30

WHAT IS MITOCHONDRIAL EVE AND Y CHROMOSOME ADAM?

Copilot AI

“Mitochondrial Eve” and “Y-chromosomal Adam” are terms used in genetics to describe the most recent common ancestors (MRCAs) of all living humans, traced through the matrilineal and patrilineal lines respectively1 2.

· Mitochondrial Eve is the matrilineal most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of all living humans2. In other words, she is defined as the most recent woman from whom all living humans descend in an unbroken line purely through their mothers and through the mothers of those mothers, back until all lines converge on one woman2. As of 2013, estimates on the age of this split ranged at around 155,000 years ago 2.

· Y-chromosomal Adam is the individual from whom all living humans are patrilineally descended 2. As of 2015, estimates of the age of the Y-MRCA range around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago 2.

Despite the Adam and Eve monikers, which evoke a single couple whose children peopled the world, it is extremely unlikely that the male and female MRCAs were exact contemporaries1. And they weren’t the only man and woman alive at the time, or the only people to have present-day descendants1. These two individuals simply had the good fortune of successfully passing on specific portions of their DNA — from the man, the Y chromosome; from the woman, the mitochondrial genome — through the millennia to most of us, while the corresponding sequences of others have largely died out due to natural selection or a random process called genetic drift1.

The DNA sequences traced by the researchers were chosen because of the unique way they are inherited: the Y chromosome is passed only from father to son, and the mitochondrial genome is passed from a mother to her children1. Each can serve as a useful tool for determining ancestral relationships because they don’t undergo the shuffling and swapping of genetic material that occurs routinely in most human chromosomes1.

Learn more

1 med.stanford.edu 2 en.wikipedia.org 3 gotquestions.org 4 openthemagazine.com

You

HOW DO SCIENTISTS TRACE ANCESTRY USING GENETICS?

Copilot AI

Scientists trace ancestry using genetics through a process called genetic testing. Here’s how it works:

1. DNA Analysis: DNA, which we inherit from our parents, serves as a molecular tool to trace our ancestors 1. Instead of sequencing all of the genes in a person’s genome, genetic testing is carried out by sequencing small stretches of DNA called markers1.

2. Y-DNA and mtDNA Tests: One pair of chromosomes that we inherit from our parents is called a sex chromosome. Males have an X and a Y sex chromosome from their mother and father, respectively. This means a male will share the same Y chromosome as all of the male ancestors in his paternal line1. Similarly, we inherit mitochondrial DNA from our mothers, which can trace maternal lineages of both men and women1.

3. Autosomal DNA Testing: Genetic genealogy uses autosomal DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to discover recent common ancestors between two or more people 2. This is done by examining the SNPs on your chromosomes and comparing them to other people’s chromosomes2.

4. Marker DNA Sequencing: Marker DNA on non-sex chromosomes can also be sequenced. While everyone has the same genes, certain regions in genes contain natural variants associated with different ethnicities. These variations are called Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)1.

5. Comparing DNA Sequences: The Human Genome Project produced a reference human genome sequence that scientists now regularly use to compare with newly generated genome sequences 3. This reveals genomic changes that have occurred in different populations over time, which provides a more powerful way to decipher the various stories of human origins and ancestry 3.

6. Ancient DNA Analysis: Scientists developed techniques for extracting small amounts of DNA from ancient samples, like bones or fur or even soil, and used very sensitive methods for sequencing the extracted DNA3. Genomic studies like these have allowed us to examine human genomes from around 500,000 years ago3.

By using these methods, scientists can uncover connections to specific regions or ethnic groups, and provide insights into ancestral migration patterns4.

Learn more

1 blogs.iu.edu 2 genealogyexplained.com 3 genome.gov 4 afs.org.au

You

HOW ACCURATE ARE GENETIC TESTS FOR ANCESTRY?

Copilot AI

Genetic tests for ancestry can provide valuable insights into a person’s heritage, but their accuracy can vary due to several factors 1 2 3 4 5:

1. Test Type: The accuracy of DNA tests depends greatly on the type of test being taken2. Tests for traits that depend on a single gene provide more reliable results2.

2. Reference Populations: Ancestry DNA tests have an average margin of error of about 10–20% due to various factors such as different reference populations used by testing companies 3.

3. Genetic Variations: DNA test results can be affected by factors such as mutations, recombination, and ancestral admixture, which can all impact the accuracy of the results4.