Why do we have survival instinct?

[ixelion]

Sometimes the need to survive/reproduce is used to explain many types of behavior, but why are we driven to survive/reproduce to begin with? Does it just boil down to physics?

 

[zebano]

..... sometimes I wonder if there's any hope for humanity at all.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Those individuals that don't have a survival instinct are probably going to die... so they don't pass on their genes.

The world is made up of individuals decedent from a long line of individuals that all managed to survive to breeding age and then have sex with someone.

 

[nageov3t]

if we didn't, we'd all be dead and al gore would have never invented the internet.

 

[Wheezer]

wow........just.......wow

 

[TurtleCrusher]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Those individuals that don't have a survival instinct are probably going to die... so they don't pass on their genes.

The world is made up of individuals decedent from a long line of individuals that all managed to survive to breeding age and then have sex with someone.

This.

Coming from a guy who looks exactly like his avatar.

 

[KB]

We are still animals with extincts, including the instinct to reproduce. This instinct evolved as those without it died without having children and thus never passed on their genes.

 

[ixelion]

Yes survival instinct comes from natural selection, I get this part. But why does natural selection occur in the first place? Why does nature compel us to live at all costs (or mostly anyway).

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: ixelion
Yes survival instinct comes from natural selection, I get this part. But why does natural selection occur in the first place? Why does nature compel us to live at all costs (or mostly anyway).

Because Stone Cold says so.

 

[Wheezer]

Originally posted by: KB
We are still animals with extincts, including the instinct to reproduce. This instinct evolved as those without it died without having children and thus never passed on their genes.

???.....sounds like those are the ones that lack a survival instinct.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: ixelion
Yes survival instinct comes from natural selection, I get this part. But why does natural selection occur in the first place? Why does nature compel us to live at all costs (or mostly anyway).

Nature doesn't "compel" anything. Nature is the ultimate neutral party. It just flat doesn't care one way or the other.

Natural selection comes from the fact that resources in a given area are always limited. True, humanity does sometimes find a way to increase those limits, but some limit will always exist. This means that there will always be an upper bound on the sustainable population of any organism within a given area. (Note that a "given area" may comprise an entire planet, solar system, galaxy, etc; the size of the area is irrelevant and all that matters is that it is in some way finite.)

Since resources are limited, any entity which can protect a sufficient share of said resources for its own consumption (or for the consumption of its family/offspring) will be more likely to survive than an entity which either cannot or chooses not to protect its share. Entities which protect their young (both in terms of securing resources for said young's consumption as well as protecting said young from environmental dangers) are more likely to have their young reach breeding age and pass on those traits. Eventually entities which protect their own share of resources and which protect their young will crowd out entities which do not.

It's not a case of nature compelling anything, but rather of a natural adaptation to the ultimate neutral party.

ZV

 

[surfsatwerk]

Originally posted by: ixelion
Sometimes the need to survive/reproduce is used to explain many types of behavior, but why are we driven to survive/reproduce to begin with? Does it just boil down to physics?

Read this book.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Selfish_Gene

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: zebano
..... sometimes I wonder if there's any hope for humanity at all.

This.

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Those individuals that don't have a survival instinct are probably going to die... so they don't pass on their genes.

The world is made up of individuals decedent from a long line of individuals that all managed to survive to breeding age and then have sex with someone.

ATOT is doomed!

 

[cherrytwist]

Originally posted by: ixelion
Sometimes the need to survive/reproduce is used to explain many types of behavior, but why are we driven to survive/reproduce to begin with? Does it just boil down to physics?

please don't

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: cherrytwist

Originally posted by: ixelion
Sometimes the need to survive/reproduce is used to explain many types of behavior, but why are we driven to survive/reproduce to begin with? Does it just boil down to physics?

please don't

I know right. He seems to be fishing for the intelligent designer argument. Oh, and before it is over, some ignorant bastage will make the ludicrous comment about humans and dinosaurs co-existing, making the Flintstones scientifically accurate. :laugh:

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: ixelion
Yes survival instinct comes from natural selection, I get this part. But why does natural selection occur in the first place? Why does nature compel us to live at all costs (or mostly anyway).

That's part of how evolution works (evolution is NOT just natural selection).

See, those who has the best genes to procreate (people like me) are most likely to procreate and those who are utterly daft (like you) will most likely never get a chance to even get a kiss. That is natural selection, survival of the fittest because they choose to mate.

Now with this also comes the will that every living organism on this planet has (yes, that includes bacteria) namely the will to survive, that doesn't come from evolution, it's been that way since the beginning of the first organism because if it wasn't that way, we wouldn't be here.

It's inherent in all living organisms, not because of natural selection but because it has always been there.

Nowadays we see people who are so brainwashed or has a malfunction in their brain that they give up their survival instinct because their minds are more powerful than their innate instinct which may or may not point to that these people should not procreate, which may be part of the natural selection process in todays society. I don't really know.

And.... PHYSICS? Seriously... you are one of those that may prove evolution wrong if you manage to procreate.