What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware?

dbiggs (dbiggs@tir.com)
Sat, 14 Oct 1995 11:45:02 -0400

"What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware?

There's no evidence for it. Human beings never think for

themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part,

members of our species simply repeat what they are told -- and

become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The

characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and

the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals

fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal

kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is

that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance

among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well

lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any

awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive

conformists. Any other view of our species is just a

self-congratulatory delusion."

-- Ian Malcolm as quoted by Michael Crichton in

"The Lost World", page 7. Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995

(The sequel to "Jurassic Park")