INTERNATIONAL BLOGGING 2016/03/01
Abstract: Reference: C.C. Rogers: “Life is a Journey”[7]
We are the Stewards of LIFE which is a complex organization of independent individuals. We obsessively need to be with others. We think we are separate, but we are one. We think of ourselves as individuals, but we are really just part of an elaborate, interdependent family and community. There is no Them; there’s only Us.
Introduction:
“We think we are separate, but we are one.”
“He who has a Why to live can bear almost any How” (1)
It is clear to me that the basic “Why” is our family and our tribe.
I. Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go“ (2) : You can live without someone who says: you are mine; You can not live without someone who says: ‘I am yours” May you be blessed with at least one such person in life!” The family and tribe is at its best when several individuals feel this ownership to one another. Ishiguro on platonic love is reviewed in the two links:
Blogger’s GPS; Review: Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go
http://therogerspost.com/2015/09/16/never-let-me-go-2/
II. Addy Pross, What is Life, (3) How Chemistry Becomes Biology.
In the beginning, non-living carbon-based chemicals joined to become “living” nucleic acids (DNA) manifesting a new force.This effect is characterized by an irrepressible self-replication. For billions of years this force has remained irrepressible and has produced a myriad of variants of life forms: including microbes, dinosaurs, cats, dogs, peacocks, zebras, red roses, giraffes, butterflies, snakes, towering redwoods, whales, fungi, crocodiles, cockroaches, mosquitoes, coral reef and Homo Sapiens. Group (network) dynamics are essential characteristics, inclusive of microbial, intermediate animal and primates including Homo Sapiens. Many of these species share remarkably similar group dynamics including that which humans manifested prior to the invention of agriculture and writing.(3) Humans still require networking which is demonstrated in animal group studies (see Safina and Sapolsky) . Further discussion on Pross’ on networks:
http://therogerspost.com/2015/08/05/life-inexplicable/
III. Carl Safina, Beyond Words, (4)
What Animals Think and Feel.Safina “We have long asked whether we are alone in the universe. But clearly we are not alone on earth. The evolution of intelligence, of empathy and complex societies, is surely more likely than we have hitherto considered. And what is it, exactly, that sets our species apart? These views are expanded in this link:
http://therogerspost.com/2015/09/30/animals-human/
IV. Robert M. Sapolsky,(5) A Primate’s Memoir. Over two decades, Sapolsky conducted unprecedented physiological research on wild primates, Groups of Non-human animals are natural occurring laboratories for studying human tribal dynamics. In the non-human laboratory, Sapolsky”s baboons are second to none.We can not live alone and be well.
See Sapolsky’s Class Day Lecture 2009: The Uniqueness of Humans in the following video:
https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_sapolsky_the_uniqueness_of_humans ?
V. Viktor Frankl,(6) Man’s Search for Meaning
We are motivated to pursue and find something meaningful in our lives. So, while we cannot, of course, avoid suffering, Dr. Frankl says, we can choose how to cope with the hurt, find meaning in our suffering and move on with a sense of renewed purpose. This meaning is most often found in mutual support and commitment to a family and tribe.
Summary: Rogers, “Life is a Journey” (7) [larger] Life [of which we are the stewards] is a complex organization of interdependent individuals. We obsessively need to be with others. We think we are separate, but we are one. We think of ourselves as individuals, but we are really just part of an elaborate, interdependent family and community. There is no “Them”; there is only Us! Review:
http://therogerspost.com/2015/08/16/life-process/
Charles Clanton Rogers, AB, MD, FACR emeritus professor GWU First published October 3, 2015; Revised March 1, 2016
Feel free to Reblog or Share
References:
(1) Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, 15 October 1844 – 25 August 1900) was a German philosopher, cultural critic, poet, composer, and Latin and Greek scholar. He wrote several critical texts on religion, morality, contemporary culture, philosophy, and science, displaying a fondness for metaphor and irony.Nietzsche’s key ideas include perspectivism, the will to power, master-slave morality, the death of God, the Übermensch and eternal recurrence. One of the key tenets of his philosophy is “life-affirmation”, which embraces the realities of the world in which we live over the idea of a world beyond
(2) [Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go
(3) Addy Pross. What is Life: How chemistry becomes biology.
Oxford University Press,(2012)
(4) Carl Safina, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel.
(5) Robert M. Sapolsky, A Primate’s Memoir, A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons
(6) Viktor Frankl, What Has Your Life Meant
(7) Charles C. Rogers, “Life is a Journey”http://therogerspost.com/2015/08/16/life-process/
Charles Clanton Rogers 
Reblogged this on Mass Delusions a.k.a. Magical & Religious Woo-Bullshit Thinking and commented:
This is a quite impressive – yes, I would call it an excellent – blog post about the evolutionary origin of our own species, Homo Sapiens.
The blogger, Charles Rogers, ponders, above all, the question: Who are we? But he is also interested in this question: Why are we like we are?
Related to that second question is this one: Why are we constantly striving to trying to find the “Holy Grail”, i.e. the meaning of our lives? (The answers can probably be found inside ourselves, in our brains, how they are wired. And that wiring is, in turn, best explained by looking back at our evolutionary origin/history.)
Charles Rogers is constantly looking for the answers of such questions by reading a lot of books, both fiction and non-fiction ones. He is obviously eager to come across what others have found in their quest of explanations.
Among his references can be found – just to mention only a few of them – a philosopher (Friedrich Nietzsche), a neurologist and psychiatrist/psychologist (Viktor Frankl), a professor of chemistry (Addy Pross), and, above all, the world famous neuroendocrinologist, professor of biology, neuroscience, and neurosurgery, Robert Sapolsky.
So it should go without saying that this blog post is very interesting to read and mull. It’s not only concerned with the question: From where do we, Homo Sapiens, originate?
Another important question is this one: What is the meaning of our lives?
Charles Rogers’ own take on this seems to be: “It is clear to me that the basic ‘Why’ is our family and our tribe.”
That is, we are strongly connected/related to each other. (That’s why Mr. Rogers himself, a professor emeritus, uses his own blog in order to build (symbolic) bridges thereby trying to make it easier for people all over the world to connect with each other.
So I’m not at all surprised to find this quote among his “mantras”: “We think we are separate, but we are one.”
Unfortunately I miss at least ONE important aspect of the human evolutionary history in this blog post. I want more facts and opinions of the evolution of religion, man’s perpetual companion.
But maybe Mr. Rogers will discuss that matter in another blog post later on? Let’s hope that will be the case.
Suffice it to say, in this comment of mine, that evolution seemingly has wired the human brain to look for, and easily find, a more or less strong correlation between teleological thinking and preference for religious motives.
In short, our human brains intuitively perceive purpose-driven design in the world around us.
The stronger this quest for (finding a) purpose is, the stronger our pro-theist preferences become.
If we can’t see whose purpose/intention it is that/when something happens, we are extremely prone to invent Hidden Causal Agents (HCAs) to find the reason behind all that happens to us and in our environments.
If you are interested, you can read more about these ideas here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_thinking . And/Or here: https://bbnewsblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/the-two-information-processing-systems-ipss-in-your-brain-one-is-woo-ish-the-other-is-rational/ .
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Thank you, bbnewsab! Your introduction to the Reblog has added clarification and an additional insight. You, bbnewsab, flatter me to request discuss on religion. In man’s seeking for, and invention ” a Higher Power (HCAs), I, myself, are your student! A cursory examination of your publications are your doctoral Thesis! IMHO, you occupy the “Chair of Magical Thinking & Invention of Religeons”. I yield the podium, Sir. Charles Rogers
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“There is no Them; there is only Us!”
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I’ve read all the books you mention– and I so agree with us being one, not just a tribe, or family, but essentially, one. It is just that we’ve lost awareness of that identity.
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Thank you Damyanti, It is great to learn you have read my references. Yes, all six billion people in the world are biological cousins. Our hope is that one day we can stop building walls and build more bridges. Genomics, as well as Safina and Sapolsky, have shown how much we share with animals, and the chemists have proven we share our chemistry with tomatoes and redwoods! I hope we cross trails again soon. Charles
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Dear Damyanti, I invite you to comment on my memoirs of the Hinge of History years of 1940-41;
http://therogerspost.com/2015/10/16/forty-forty-one/
Thank you, Charles
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I come to think of this article about what actually could be an act of vanity among chimps: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/animal-fashion-some-chimps-are-putting-grass-ears-and-nobody-knows-why-180951888/?no-ist .
Or am I anthropomorphizing too much now? Can you, dear members of the RWT community, come up with a better explanation (than my vanity hypothesis)? It’s IMHO no doubt a sign of self-awareness. At least it’s about how a new fashion is born.
From the article:
Actually, this “grass-in-ear-behavior” appears to serve no discernible function. But after Julie did it, other chimps in her group began to follow suit.
It’s no surprise that chimpanzees have “culture,” in that different groups develop different traditions, including unique behaviors and tools. But usually these things have a concrete function, whereas this one doesn’t, according to the study, published in the journal Animal Cognition.
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Some practices originally had important function like separating dairy fro meat before Pasteurization & other scientific public health improvements but carry forth in recognition of traditions.
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@KK: Talking of building bridges and your comment “There is no Them; there is only Us!”
Have you thought of the fact that new religions are seldom including people? They are, indeed, excluding those who don’t share theirown religious faith and dogmas and obey their God and His commands.
In the Old Testament (The Hebrew Bible) we can read about a god who doesn’t hesitate to slaughter the infidels and/or enemies of the Israelites.
Jesus is also excluding people. Have a look at Matthew chapter 15, verse 24, about a Canaanite Woman who asked Jesus for help but was, at first, rejected:
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Verse 26 is not much better. In that verse Jesus compares the Canaanite woman to a dog just because she isn’t from Israel.
In the oldest of the four gospels in the New Testament, that of Mark, there is no Sermon on the Mount to be found. And no Beatitudes. In fact, Mark does not even mention the parable about the good Samaritan.
The one who transformed the Christian Church and stressed ethnic egalitarianism was, above all, St. Paul a.k.a the Spin Doctor of Christioanity.
It is St. Paul who sets the agenda, by stating, in his letter to the Galatians: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
So what’s your take on these aspects I just conveyed, KK?
Perhaps you are a reincarnation of St. Paul, now promoting the need to build bridges between people?
Anyhow, let’s hope that an equivalent of St. Paul soon will appear also in Islam. He seems to be much needed in that excluding religion.
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We bridge builders must not confuse political “leaders” of various Religeons with the inherent sameness (genomes) of the people.
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Poor Francis, I surmise, does not exclude various people.
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As you know, ambitious men use Religeons texts, interpreting them to justify their political purpose. It was a practice, before during and after the time of J. C.!!
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Unfortunately, religion and politics – or rather religious and political power – cooperate.
Such cooperation makes it easier to oppress people.
BTW, Pope Francis met the Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis in private, the woman who refused (and still refuses) to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/30/the-murky-details-of-kim-daviss-alleged-secret-meeting-with-pope-francis/ .
By treating non-heterosexual couples in an unfair way, Kim Davis is NOT building bridges between people. And the pope, by paying just her a visit, seems to condone her attitude. I find that visit despicable.
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Francis said he didn’t do that and is replacing the archbishop who was responsible for that fiasco
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What did Pope Francis not do? What do you mean, KK? I donät understand. Did he, or did he not, meet Kim Davis?
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Also, of course, see Safina: cooperation of dolphins with men and whates with men. If we can get cooperation across species, we should be able cooperate with other homo sapiens.
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That’s why I want you to blog more about hor´w music can unite people. And how music can be a tool for building bridges between humans and animals as well.
Here’s a good article dealing with that topic: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine-corner/201204/do-dogs-have-musical-sense .
BTW, are there any members of this RWT Tribe who have pets? Then tell us about their musical preferences. About howling dogs and meowing cats and so on.
In the article above (click the link), you can read about a bulldog named Dan. The great composer Sir Edward Elgar developed a special fondness for Dan because he felt that the dog had a good sense of musical quality. He often invited Dan to attend choir practices and then noticed that Dan used to growl at choristers who sang out of tune, which greatly endeared him to the composer. 🙂
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You have just introduced me to this idea. Now I think about it, we had a cat who loved to walk across our piano keys in the middle of the night. He did it repeatedly and seemed to enjoy it. It may have been accidental but he did it deliberately numerous times! K
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I hope you didn’t suffer from Katzenjammer, KK, after being disturbed in this way by your cat.
As a matter of fact, I’ve heard of other cats who liked walking on the piano keys.
But dogs don’t walk upon the piano. But if you play on it, they can howl. Maybe they howl because the piano players hit the wrong keys? Cf. Dan the Bulldog mentioned in my comment above.
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Attention all pet owners! Are your pet(s) interested in listening to music – or “playing” some music?
Please share your thoughts here in this comment field! I’m curious to know.
BTW, I need some help. What is this cat trying to tell us? I don’t understand the cattish language. In the beginning the cat seems to be crying for help. But later on the same cat seems to be telling the audience something rather funny. Or?
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I didn’t find the relevant link to your question
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Sorry! Forgot the link! Mea culpa.
Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tRWRSfcDuQ .
What is the cat’s message to humankind? What do you think? I haven’t any clue at all.
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That cat is frustrated and angry; however, the videographer has edited it, clip+ repeat+repeat to make appear much longer. Cats seldom go on like that ; even when they are in pain or sick they get still and quiet.
K
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The other day we discussed animals and the rouge test, also known as mirror test.
I just stumbled upon this beautiful video clip showing how different animals react upon seeing themselves in a mirror: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG_QhttG6jo
Life is not always easy. 🙂
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We have several walls of mirrors down to the floor. Our kittens have always had them. My cats learned at an early age that is futile to try to play with the cat in the mirror because it is not another cat. I had one cat who upon being brushed , would go to the mirror to admire his newly groomed appearance!
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That’s (for me) very interesting information. It could, possibly, indicate that the newly groomed cat had some kind of self-awareness. If so, that’s really unusual. Normally, cats don’t pass the rouge test or mirror test.
Have you tested Darwin and Einstein, the two cats who try to foster and care for you at the moment?
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They lost interest in the mirrors as we have glass doors to the outside and there are several kinds or birds which come to our bird feeders and the real live birds activity keeps the cats entertained whenever they are not asleep!
I disagree with you about their self awareness. They spend a lot of time grooming themselves and each other. They lick their fur so much, they get hairballs in their stomachs,
Now dogs are even more vain. My son has a dog who has several sweaters, a raincoat and a hat. The dog actually likes to wear clothes . When my son puts a coat, his dog wants to wear a sweater or a coat!
K
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Thank you, KK!
Very fascinating and interesting observations! Never heard anything like that before.
So, all other members of this RWT community/group here at the Charles Rogers oasis, what experiences of your dogs and cats (and other pets) can you tell us about when we are sitting in here closely together to each other around the camp fire in order to keep us warm.
I want to hear your stories about your pets, too. Please, share them with me/us!
Hope you agree with me that such sweet stories as our RWT Medicine Man KK just told us about his cats (and his son’s dog) are wonderful to listen to (that is read about in the comment field).
Please, understand that the comment fields in here are open for you, too. Share your thoughts! Not only about your pets. You choose what to share with us.
Be sure you’ll be listened to in here. We won’t turn a deaf ear to you.
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Yes, I love comments. I like also like to know the reader is and where they live? c. May we have some footprints?
c
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If you wish, I could write a blog about anecdotes with our pets. Like the dog Oliver, who doesn’t like to dine alone. Or the cat who insist that I go to bed and get up on his schedule of 11:00 P & 6:30 A
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Yes, I want you to tell us more about your cats and other pets in your family.
Of course there must be pets also in other RWT members’ homes. Please share your experiences.
BTW, how do the animals sound in different languages. For example, in Sweden a dog says Voff, a cat Mjau, a cow Mu, a sheep Bä (bae), a pig Nöff (Noeff).
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OK, I have a draft on human-animal relationships as well behavior in the animal we thought was limited to humans. K
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That sounds even better. I mean, giving the stories an evolutionary touch as well.
But also ordinary experiences (involving pets and pet-human realtions) are welcomed here by me.
And I think/hope my dear friend KK agrees.
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In Sweden the cuckoo clock on the wall has said ko-ko-ko-ko twelve times. Meaning it’s time to log out.
So Goodbye and Good night from Sweden in northern Europe.
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When a Swedish rooster crows, he sounds like kuckeliku (pronounced kockelekoo).
Quite similar to cock-a-doodle-doo. I think the Swedish rooster could have attracted even some American female chickens.
Let’s see if my Swedish rooster also can attract some other tribe members – both chicks and males – in here to write a comment or two.
Kockelikoo once more.
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Have you heard that American roosters believe that the Sun comes up each morning because he- an American Rooster- has crowed! Whatever would the World do without us?
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