From: t4mhoff@srv.PacBell.COM (Todd Hoff)
Subject: What experiences does it take to be human?
Keywords: n
Organization: Pacific * Bell
Distribution: all
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 21:26:15 GMT

What experiences does it take to be human? I couldn't 
think of a better way of phrasing the question so let 
me explain. 

I've read with interest Julius Jaynes' (sp?) theories stating humans 
attained consciouness because of various historical events.
I don't believe this, but I have given a lot of thought
to the idea individuals may not attain consciousness unless
they go through certain experiences. A stronger statement
might state we are not fully human (whatever this means) unless we 
have integrated a select number of experiences. Cultures are
defined when people share similar sets of experiences.

I define consciousness as a state of meta-awareness, the
awareness of being aware, in empathy and control our own internal
states. I remember vividly my entry into consciousness, prompted
I believe by my mother's long struggle with cancer. I've noticed
many people, people smarter than I, do not seem to be conscious
(accroding to my definition). Sure they act, have opinions,
live, breathe, have kids, but there seems a lack of awarness
about their own experience, and more importantly the experience of 
others.

I focus on experience because it is experience that gives meaning
to the formalisms we learn. I don't believe semantics can be
derived from syntax. It is experience that can give us empathy
with others and teach us truly why we should not hurt or betray
others, care about the environment, etc..

It seems many today may not be having experiences that
make for healthy people or a healthy society. What helpful
exepriences can be derived from a cultural emphasis on 
designer clothes, MTV, and status? People become tools
to be used and discarded. If people had more shared
experiences of valuing themseleves and others then it
would be very difficult to rob them, kill them, or let them
suffer without medical care.

There's a lot more to these thoughts but I have probably
lost most people. I'm left wondering what experiences
do people need to become good people? As a fan of NLP I
can't help thinking if we can determine what these experiences are
then we could give them to people. Perhaps parents, if they knew
a certain set of experiences where important, could construct
environments where kids could experience the experiences.

Here's some experiences that helped me become me. I know these
are not generalizable, they are culturally biased, and other
horrible things. Oh well.
1. Although my family is small I have a large extended family.
   I did not realize how valuable this was until much later
   in my life. It's just not a good way of getting a lot of
   christmas presents. From them I learned how people can work
   together to paint a house, build a barn, clean a river,
   plant a garden, and just generally be their for each other.
   I watched and learned how very different people can be toghether,
   argue visciously, yet still be love each other. From them I 
   learned something about the value of fixing things, how to
   ride a motor cycle, how to swim, how people die, how divorces
   happen, babies spontaneously abort, and how life goes on.
2. My granparents live on a river and had a garden, they were the
   center of our family until my grandmother died. From the river
   I learned so much it's incredible. Life is in the river,
   people use it for food and recreation, you can see the
   old man winter freeze the river over, spring bring it back
   to life. From them I learned how bad it was in the great
   depression, and how how good we have it now even in the
   worst of times. I also learned the values of the "old country."
3. From my mother's lingering death I learned true empathy and became
   consciouss, how to care for others, to confront death, and so much more.
4. From the military I learned my mind is truly my own. If you are aware
   it cannot be taken from you. I learned how to accomplish tasks
   working with people and handle more responsibility.
5. I have also learned much from my dogs, horses, cows, watching
   a foal be born and its life, putting my dogs to sleep, and agonizing
   over putting my mother to sleep.
6. I've learned much from books. People are different. They've been
   different in the past and will be in the future. It's empathy that
   ties us all together.
7. I haven't really learned much from school I think.
8. More...

Change anyone experience. What would I be like? What would I be like
now if my parents had forced me take music lessons, as I now wish
they would have. What would I be like if my mom did not die or
I was an orphan?
-- 
Thanx
Todd
t4mhoff@srv.pacbell.com
What the thinker thinks the prover proves (someone)