[Suki]

Originally posted by Raulgr

Suki,

I believe that the short answer to your question is neither.

It occurs to me that thought (the ability to contemplate) is driven by emotional response, which, in turn, arises from the requirements of our biology. The ultimate requirement of that biology, of course, is simply survival.

Consider the following question: When I get up in the morning, why do I put on shoes? Answer: I put on shoes so that I won't die. If I go to work barefoot, people will think that I am weird, important people like my boss. If people think that I am weird, I might lose my job. If I lose my job, I might not be able to pay my mortgage. If I can't pay my mortgage, I might end up on the sreets. If I end up on the streets, I might succumb to the elements. Therefore, I put on shoes so that I won't die!

Simply put, every atom, molecule, and cell of our body is engaged in a moment by moment life or death struggle for survival of the organism which they comprise. I believe that the resulting "will to survive" of the organism is at the core of human motivation and is the driver of emotion and thought. The game is to stave off the grim reaper, to allay our most fundamental biological concern. To that end, we seek to wrap ourseles in the security of romance, friendship, esteem of colleagues, possessions, and all of the pleasant diversions that are presented to us. In this way, I do not see thought as disconnected from emotion.

Is human thought in transition from mystical thinking to reality-based thinking? Clearly it is. You are in Macedonia. The year is 600 BC. You look into the daytime sky and contemplate a blindingly radiant and powerful object. What can it be? Why, of course! It's a golden chariot of the gods being drawn across the heavens. The source of mystical thinking is rather clear, isn't it? When you encounter something that demands an explanation, and there is none, you create the explanation. Certainly, no one after Copernicus saw a golden chariot in the daytime sky.

Science provides the answers that we must have for all that we experience in the universal realm in which we exist. The greater our understanding of that existence, the less apt we are to be courted by the metaphysical. In science, I see a dawn of awakening for human understanding. If the race survives, I believe that understanding will take humanity to places not yet imagined. I do not see that understanding as inimical to human emotion, unless, of course, through it we are able to reshape our biology to immortality.

Well, Suki, I have a question for you. Did you mention in one of your posts that you are a mambera? Or did I just dream that part? I'm considering resurrecting my mambo workshop now that I am in the island. I've got a steplist of 100 or so mambo shines from the Palladium era. I had the good fortune of connecting with Eddie Torres in New York, and I've patterned my workshop after his. For my money, Eddie is the leading exponent of mambo in the world today. Do you know him? An Eddie Torres dance exhibition is not to be missed! Since I don't get much news from NY these days, if you happen to hear about Eddie, I would appreciate an update.

Regards, Raul

Raul, thanks for replying so eloquently to my post. All of your points are well thought out and have solid logic behind them. But unfortunately, like a lot of scientific thought it brings up more questions than it answers. For example, all of us are mortal, our cells will degenerate and we will die. That is the ultimate destiny of all mortal beings. Why would we be programmed (in our cells) to resist something that is as natural as death?

Just a quick mind teaser for you Raul. Something similar to that Macedonia anecdote you mentioned to underscore your point on the shift from mystical thinking to reality thinking. What if our five senses, our possessions, romance and all the other things in life exist in order for you NOT to notice that which is eternal about your original pre-birth state? I know it sounds wild, but consider this a moment. According to accepted scientific thought, energy can't truly be destroyed, it can only be transformed (changed). And as humans we have internal temperature, electrical activity in our brains. We have energy. Where does that energy go? If according to this observable material world energy or matter can not be destroyed, just transformed. Why should it be different for obviously energy-based organic beings? Where does our independent energy go? We are basically dead once our brain waves no longer register activity. The energy that kept that activity going--how is it transformed?

See what I mean how science brings forth more questions than it can answer. The search for answers through scientific methods, is what makes science so dynamic and creative.

Well, on the social question. Yes, I am a big mambera....In my teen years I wanted to be a professional dancer. But destiny is destiny. In college my theater professors thought I should drop my Anthropology major, and become an actress, they thought I was very good. Unfortunately, I loved Anthropology too much. Though I miss the acting and dancing a lot now. Raul I live in Denver. Here it is basically dead for Mambo clubs. Just a lot of Mexicanos dancing vaquero-hacienda style quebraditas, to horrible norteno music. I love Eddie Torres. Too bad I live so far from the Mambo action. Love talking to you. Carino. Suki.