Could Humans Evolve Beyond Fear?

PicardsTrueLove · **Thu Feb 06, 2003 12:53 am Could Humans Evolve Beyond Fear?**

I recently read an article in "Discover" magazine about how the brain is evolving beyond the instinctive response to fear in favor of a more cognitive than instinctive approach to emotion. Sound familiar? Yes my friends, in the future our race could become very Vulcan in its philosophies. The article was fascinating: apparently, the brain's response to fear is so innate it is not even learne: even newborns freeze when they are gripped by instinctual fear of something. The cerebral cortex, which controls higher thought and memory, is responsible for our rational approach to situations, and the brain stem (the primitive but more reactive region of the brain at the top of the spinal cord) is responsible for autonomic functions and other instinctual responses. The fear response takes plac ein the brain stem, but the brain is beginnign to "learn" to suppress this response in favor of a more cerebral (cortical) response to situations which induce fear. Maybe we'll never be completely devoid of emtion, but we are evolving towards a more level emotional playing field. Just thought I'd share. What are your thoughts?

(the article isn't on www.Discover.com yet: check in a week or so for the February issue: the cover artwork is a pic of the human brain. I think the article's called "Can the Brain Conquer Fear" or something like that.)

One of Many · **Thu Feb 06, 2003 11:54 am re**

I only hope that my brain will LEARN within the next 50 years, as I am already 20 and as they say, Time Is Running Out!!!

Frosty · **Thu Feb 06, 2003 5:14 pm**

Fascinating. I don't know if our fear should be controlled all that rationally though.

Jadzia Lenara Dax · **Thu Feb 06, 2003 8:11 pm**

[moved from gen. trek--just didn't seem in the right place to me. jad]

PrankishSmart · **Fri Feb 07, 2003 12:25 am**

Very interesting, I suppose that is possible, but it would take a very long time. Something we will not see in our lifetime.

Los · **Fri Feb 07, 2003 10:04 am**

fear? Control? Yeah right.

It'll always be there, no matter what Vulcan mythos you decide to participate in.

lord_picard · Captain Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 713

i sopose it is posible, shur it is very posible

Voy_Girl · **Thu Mar 06, 2003 9:05 am**

Fascinating indeed... Hard to imagine since fear is a part of the humans of today.

Los · **Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:15 am**

All this startrek talk... and no one has come up with an original idea.

The_Doctor · Lieutenant Commander Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Posts: 339

Very fascinating, but I don't htink I would want to evolve beyond fear, I think it is part of growing up and being more miture when you face your fears

Kylon · **Sat Apr 26, 2003 7:46 am a**

I already do that...

I look at relationships in a rational and logical manner. Unfortunately it is illogical to get in a relationship with

me in my current state.

Because I lack maturity, because I was spoiled/my enviroment always changed for me, I could always whine and get what I wanted, or figure a creative solution that required very little work. I also don't have as much to offer, except extreme potential, my creativity, problem solving ability, Singing, WELL okay I have some things to offer but not enough to want a relationship with or to create a stable relationship.

I am working on Maturity. A quality all individuals should have before they pursue a REAL relationship.

But yah, I don't FALL IN LOVE, like all you other people. I select a female of worthy qualities then I purposely fantasize about that individual, how happy the life would be ect...

This allows me to become emotionally attached.

I have also developed a more logical way of long term relationships. What is the point of dating, if it is not going to lead to marriage?

The individuals become friends for a long period of time first,
The individuals ask what they want in a future partner(honestly) and the other individual begins to mold himself/herself into that individual that the other parnter desires.

This provides motivation for self improvement, because most partners do not want a weak partner.

This increases the amount of love between individuals because they are changing for each other.

This makes each partner the ideal partner for each other instead of looking for a good partner in a world vastly overpopulated by idiots.

There are some weakpoints of this idea that I have not worked out. It is a theoretical system and has not been worked out.

Each partner would pursue and allow each other to pursue other support groups, and an education of at least a trade job level.

This way neither partner is completely dependant on each other, therefore it limits the ability to abuse another partner. This also allows the relationship to handle more stress, and in times of economic hardship, generate more income.

This type of relationship, the self development process, education, ect... would more than likely take 2-5 years.

A period that last about 2-4 years after an individual has met another individual that they are attracted to, they feel emotionally escalated. The fact that doing these procedures would probably take 2-5 years means that the emotional/sexual escalation would decrease during this time. Allowing for a more rational, and more honest view of the person.

Dates Attained: 0

PrankishSmart · **Wed Apr 30, 2003 8:21 am**

^Intresting...

Seven of Nine · **Wed Apr 30, 2003 9:53 am**

Yeah... maybe. But I think I prefer dating. More fun

Los · **Wed Apr 30, 2003 11:24 am**

to remove fear is as hard as removing the sex drive.

PrankishSmart · **Wed Apr 30, 2003 11:56 pm**

^Well almost.

Los · **Thu May 01, 2003 9:20 am Re: a**

Hyper · Ensign Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 60 Location: UK

Fear will never be removed from the human psyche. If we did not have fear, then we would become extinct very quickly. At the moment everyone is afraid of death. And dont give me the bull that some people arent, they are, they just dont show it. Imagine if we lost that fear, that drive for self survival.....

Tech · **Thu May 15, 2003 10:20 pm**

Believe me, when I say I'm not afraid of dying, it's true... I've already LOST my drive for self-survival... you know, when nothing matters to you anymore. My only regret is that, if I die... I won't be able to use my computer. I know some people might think I'm weird... but that's just how I think.

Los · **Thu May 15, 2003 11:59 pm**

webtaz99 · **Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:37 pm Fear**

Courage is the body's wisdom of its strength.

Fear is merely the body's wisdom of its weakness.

Ask any combat vet. Humans can continue to operate rationally in spite of any level of fear.

Of course, humans are highly variable....

ketchup · Ensign Joined: 12 Nov 2003 Posts: 59

Probably in 150 years or so, humanity will start becoming Borg-like. What I mean by this is that we will gain technology that will enhance ourselves through neural-implants. This will be necessary to keep up with the speed and intelligence of Artificial Intellegence. Humans will be born outside of bodies, much like in Brave New World To accomadate for larger brains. This is sad, and all we can do is hope it wont come to pass.