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Old Feb 23, 2004, 11:08 pm   #8 (permalink) (top)
Packratt
Molten Ash
 
Location: Crimetown USA
Posts: 130
Self preservation and perpetuation of one's genetic material a basic biological forces. They do drive all animal activities, even humans.

Aggression, which is the third you mention, is a function of procreation and only self preservation when done in defense against preemptive aggression from another organism. Pre-emptive aggression is a function of procreation by the aggressor in an attempt to grab more of a share of the genetic pool.

In humans, and other creatures that rely on socialization as a part of their defense mechanisms, (self preservation instinct), there does seem to be an instinct to defend the "group" from harm. This is still a derivative of the first and second mechanisms, when an organism acts in a way that ensures the survival of the most of it's species it also improves the odds that it's own genetic material will remain viable and helps improves it's own odds of survival.

Of course, we could get into how this means that morals are also a function of biology in humans, but that is something more fitting for a different topic.


"...the worker's liberty... is only a theoretical freedom, lacking any means for its possible realisation, and consequently it is only a fictitious liberty, an utter falsehood. -Bakunin
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