Human and Tool as One Entity/Identity

It may seem weird at first to consider- but everything we use, as humans, are tools. From clothing to computers, they're all tools. What is a tool? A tool is anything used to achieve a goal. Take a minute to realize how everything you use is a tool; tools help you get something done: cars help you get places, clothes are to warm us, plates helps us eat, etc.

Human tool use may at first seem not so special in light of the many other animals which use tools as well. But one must look more closely at how human tool use differs from non-human tool use. There is one major difference: tool evolution, what non-human animals lack in their tool use. Human tool use advances and evolves with time. This is why chimpanzees are still sticking twigs in dead trees to fish out ants, instead of learning to open the bark up. On the other hand, humans started with flint and rock and now we have smart phones and space shuttles. As you can see, human tool use progresses over time, while non-human tool use remains stagnated. Thus, we can see how human tool use is unique amongst animal tool use for its ability to evolve.

Knowing that tool use evolves in humans, we can claim that humans are identified and are one with their tools. For instance, all of human behavior is performed through some kind of tool, such as in cooking or hunting. One example of an incredible and mysterious human tool is language. This tool allows for communication which is one of the biggest markers of human uniqueness. It is clear that one of the most important features which identify humans as humans is evolving tool use, for it is their tool use which allows and defines their uniquely human behaviors and activities.

If what makes a human is their unique behavior. And their unique behavior is made possible by tools. We can conclude that tools and tool use are what make humans identifiable as humans. This in turn means that the human entity cannot be separated from the tool/tool use because it is that itself which defines it. Humans are evolving tools and tool use, evolving tools and tool use is human.

Why Conventional Ignorance (Common Stupidity) gets me Frustrated.

It’s painfully obvious that our American culture, as portrayed by the mass media, prides in stupidity. There is virtually nothing high brow in popular culture. It’s tacitly assumed that intellectualism is not a virtue, but rather a pretentious endeavor that lies outside of practical life. Most consider ignorance to be bliss, which stops them from wanting to expand their intellect. It’s my contention that we as humans are naturally built to use and advance our intellects. I believe the lie that most humans are dumb or not intellectual is one of the biggest factors impeding our cultural and social advancement from resembling our technological progress.

Sadly, one of the biggest examples of the acceptance of ignorance is in schools. For instance, in most schools the learning that takes place is narrowly focused on what it needed to pass. Retaining information is not important for most students; they just want to know how to pass. Many professors don’t help this trend; they, by expecting this attitude form their students, makes them adopt the same attitude and it corrupts their style of teaching. They start to only teach enough so the students can pass. The idea of idle curiosity and the motivation to learn for wonder and understanding is lost. It’s replaced with a mass rush toward the goal of a degree with no attention paid to what happened prior to receiving it. This appalling vicious cycle is ruining the educational sphere of activity and marginalizing it. The result: people who are willfully ignorant and proud of it. They mask their unawareness with vague notions of practicality and “getting to the point of things”. Well, if all they care for is the end and not the means, and death is the ultimate end, then what stops them from suicide? I am being funny, but I digress. The key idea is that acceptance of the ignorant lifestyle is shocking when we consider that one of its biggest factors is the institution created for opening up the mind and intellect. What irony!

One may argue that being ignorant is some kind or right and should be respected. Well I don’t and here's why I think no one should as well: we live in a democracy (its enough of a democracy that politicians use it in their speeches when justifying invading foreign countries). As a citizen, one must be informed and mentally keen to ensure the right policies and representatives are running correctly- that’s why we have a media that informs us and why we have the right to vote. So one can see how in a democracy, intellectualism is a mandate. Without it, how would we be able to make wise decisions in deciding and evaluating the government and its actions? Intellectualism is not a pretentious activity; it is our duty to ensure a proper and civilized society.

No animal spends as much time in a childhood stage as humans do, about 20 years. This is to guarantee a prolonged education. As humans, our greatest ability is the mind and not anything purely physical. What makes us the most adaptive species on the planet is our ability to make tools. Tool use is a function of the mind. If we spent more time cultivating our minds, we would be using more of our innate potential as humans. This would be the most efficient way of maximizing our natural capabilities. Almost all great inventions that helped humans were discovered or invented as apart of idle curiosity or wonder and awe which drives one to know more and further their mental development. This fact is evidence that following intellectual interests is not ultimately pretentious as it benefits humanity as a whole. We are hardwired to learn and increase our intellect.

All these points touch upon the idea that it is very natural and appropriate for humans to increase their intellect. They do it so they can maximize their intrinsic potential and serve the greater good through conscious participation in government and society. It’s a shame that out culture reinforces ignorance and youthful stupidity as valuable and acceptable aspects of human behavior. Children are indoctrinated with media as they grow up. They are taught to think learning is detrimental to their sanity and livelihood. They try to keep education at a slight minimum, when the mockery is that education is continuous throughout all of life. It’s better to prepare for that with a healthy intellect.

Education a Self can be Interested In.

I want to propose a revised form of US education that downplays competition by focusing more on the individual’s self-interest while in school. This way, instead of competition being the main motivation behind schoolwork, it becomes the persons own passions. So the person grows up trying to figure out how to modify their passions into something useful to society as a whole. This would be the aim of schooling, rather then the blind memorization of facts- which eventually leads up to college where the person must chose their life path, whereas up to that point the thought never entered their mind in a serious fashion- a real recipe for disaster.

So in essence, I believe that the only way of bridging the gap economic between the poor and the rich is to redesign our educational system, from one of competition (seeing who gets the best grades, scores, etc) to one of discovering, cultivating, and harnessing a persons self-interested passion.

There is a real world example of this kind of self-interest driven educational system. Finland:

I believe it will benefit the US economy greatly if we educate our people (in higher education as well) in this manner. If this would to be the case, my expectation is the wealth gap closing, because more people are educated without the burden of debt. Thus a true open class society can exist, with free and high quality education as the escalator between classes. Rather then throw money at other forms of welfare, we can devote most of it to providing everyone education. This will end up being more helpful then standard welfare. If we educate people, they can support themselves. Rather then the government supporting them without providing education. Education helps people help themselves.

Loving you means I wouldn't want you to be any other way than how you are.

Where does the passion fit into this? Perhaps love isn't about pleasure. When we look to love to make us feel good, we end up chasing it like an addict chases a high. True love is acceptance. Don't get it twisted... [rant over]

Glimpsing Cleavages Without Shame

I rarely talk about myself, but I see this as a great opportunity to introduce this notion with a very recent (today) personal story. While I was in my cognitive psychology class, the teacher posed a question to the students. One of the girls sitting across the room from me answered. So naturally I looked in her direction. As she was talking, I could notice that in the periphery of my vision a- might I say wonderful- cleavage presenting itself to me. It belonged to the tall blue eyed, black hair beauty next to me. I took quick peek as I’m inclined to do so quite regularly when the chance arises (no need for shame, this is evolution in action). After the microsecond glance at the “treasure” my eyes came back up and our gazes met. Oh this was a quite an awkward situation. After locking eyes we quickly turned away and buried the uncomfortable situation by fixating our attention on the teacher. Shortly after, she put on her heavy coat and kept it on for the remainder of the class. No one else did this, so I don’t think it was because she was cold. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and some what mad that I possibly ruined any chance of friendship between us.

Yet, I feel that I am at no fault. Like I said before, I feel no shame for looking. This is just how my genes express themselves. If anything, she is too stuck up. Doesn’t she understand that I am a man with hormones ranging, and she, with her slim and sexy frame wearing tight reveling clothes, is signaling to my genes strong erotic messages? Why else would a women wear tight or revealing clothes if not to have people glance at them. I can understand the problem with a prolonged unbroken gaze; in that situation I agree that the person is over stepping their boundaries. A quick glance is not the same as a prolonged gaze because the latter displays an uncontrolled quality which may lead to impulsive behavior, like rape. On the other hand, a quick glance shows an ability to restrain behavior which means one is in control of their actions. Therefore, we can say that a prolong gaze at a women’s figure is offensive because it displays the potential of carrying out impulsive and potentially dangerous behavior; but a quick glance is acceptable and even expected.

All in all, women shouldn’t feel offended when someone glances at their revealing frame or cleavage. If they didn’t want to be looked at in those areas, they wouldn’t wear clothes that reveal them. So men, glance freely with no shame, you are acting out the dance of life/gene maintenance. And women, if you don’t want to be looked at, cover up your body more. You cant expect men not to look. Its in their biological make-up to look/glance!

Post-Metal/Rock as Metaphysical Music

Post-Metal/Rock depicts the interplay of light and dark elements through varying shades of density (represented by low tuning, a thick/heavy sound, and loud distorting feedback) and clarity (represented by clean mellow passages, with a soft/light feel). These elements of density and clarity can be epitomized as the classic forces of light and dark or shadow. With that said, we can imagine post metal and post-rock music as depicting instances of the interplay of opposites (light and dark), by illustrating the varying levels and shades, in their musical progressive passages, as they range from density to clarity and vice-versa. The compositions come out in an organic way (unlike the verse-chorus-verse structure of most music) due to this interplay. Thus, because light and dark are usually the metaphors for the two metaphysical powers- positive and negative- which shape and create all that there is, we can see how post-metal/rock music depicts the varying shades and degrees of density and clarity, and the progressions between them. Ultimately we can call this style of music metaphysical in a sense.

PS: I just want to add that I also find an unifying water element in post-metal music. It is as if the music is symbolic or an overall metaphor for water, the sea, and the changing tides which include storms. The progression of the songs can be analogized to the ways waves pick up and clam down on the surface of the ocean.

Forgiving Everyone For Everything

Alan Watts once said, “To understand all is to forgive all.” That is, when we are fully aware of something- we know its history and make up- we find it hard to blame it for anything, because we see it shaped by forces not controlled by itself. In other words, the thing in question is seen only as reacting to circumstances outside of it, thereby removing any accountability for its status. We see it as a product of its environment.

As a psychologist, one studies behavior. The peculiar thing is that when you start to understand behavior, you forgive it. Where before one would have been appalled or offended by a given action, now one feels sympathetic and does not judge the person rashly or harshly. One reaches a place where all behavior is seen as a reaction to environmental factors outside the complete control of anyone.

When one comes to that realization, its supremely hard to get mad at anyone. Should psychology be taught in public schools to help people become more aware of behavior in general so they are more forgiving when they meet people with different ways of expressing behavior? I think so.