Metacognition
Just a Thought
Published on April 26, 2004 By psychx In Philosophy
Humanity in itself is a unique as it is similar. We all go through pretty much the same stages in life. We grow up and want to establish ourselves and leave an imprint on this world. When it comes to our behavior we can all mostly be categorized into groups. Physically you are part of an ethnic or racial class. Economically you are poor, middle class, or rich. Unfortunately these same groups create division in the form of being prejudiced. The question which I ponder is what if we all kept our views and personalities but physically we all looked the same like most animals within their species. We as humans all diverge in our looks. We may look similar but no two humans are exactly alike. If we looked the same had the same features would that in itself at least eliminate racial stereotyping and discrimination? As far as being attracted to another would it be more purely based on the personality of the other person? Of course it isn't something that I especially desire but considering the nature of human beings these questions some times get me lost in thought. Maybe it stems from the fact that I watched the movie Gattaca yesterday which in itself poses an interesting scenario. That would have, I think, the opposite effect. Genetic manipulation is not so far off and if we were to create a genetically improved human being would they recieve preference over the average joe? Just a bunch of questions that I considered for a while. Feel free to disagree.
Comments
on Apr 26, 2004
Whats to disagree. I have wondered the same thing many times in my life, as a matter of fact, have had this conversation with others in my life. There already is scientific experiements in which, (the thinking at least), a genetically "perfect" human is created. I am sure you have read or heard about it, picking the proper eye color, hair color, size, and so on and so on. The next step, I am sure, will be to create a human from scratch generating several ethnicities, in order to bring out the best in all of them () I said that jokingly, but, wow, you never know. You have brought up some very thought provoking points and I bet that there will be many differant angles that others will take with this one.
on Apr 26, 2004
yes we are getting closer to the day that genetic counseling (the manipulation of the human genome) will be as achievable as invitro fertilization. Currently it is shrouded in some controversy, conservatives believe we are playing God. Genetic couseling theoretically would provide a world free of congenital disease. At the same is using our technology to improve our genetics tampering with nature or is it just another form of evolution? There are so many different scenarios that technology could create..
on Apr 26, 2004
I disagree. It seems to me that by creating this so-called perfect human being we can get rid of racial stereotypes and etc. I don't think this is the way to go about doing so. You see, by creating this perfect-looking person, instead of saying that looks are not important like I think you mean to, you actually place looks as one of the most important characteristica about a person. You are saying that people can not BE the same unless they LOOK the same, which is the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve. You don't allow people to learn to be accepting. As soon as we create this look that everyine has, people will be differentiated by something else. We would have to give everyone the same religion, culture, etc. The way to eliminate stereotypes and such is not to make everyone the same. It is to recognize differences and accept them.

~Molly
on Apr 26, 2004
I disagree. It seems to me that by creating this so-called perfect human being we can get rid of racial stereotypes and etc. I don't think this is the way to go about doing so. You see, by creating this perfect-looking person, instead of saying that looks are not important like I think you mean to, you actually place looks as one of the most important characteristica about a person. You are saying that people can not BE the same unless they LOOK the same, which is the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve. You don't allow people to learn to be accepting. As soon as we create this look that everyine has, people will be differentiated by something else. We would have to give everyone the same religion, culture, etc. The way to eliminate stereotypes and such is not to make everyone the same. It is to recognize differences and accept them.

~Molly
on Apr 29, 2004
I see where you're coming from and I don't neccessarily disagree with you. I was really thinking more along the lines of what would the outcome be in this scenario, would it improve unity or would it create divide. Looks are definitely a factor on our immediate judgement but I was trying to go a little farther than just saying looks aren't important but what would it do as far as how we view differences in our culture and ethnicity would some of those boundaries disappear? You think that they would be differentiatied by something else, which taking current human nature into account I agree with you, but what would that difference be? Also I am not saying that people need to look the same in order to behave the same way, (which would be a rudimentary way of thinking) that would depend on the individuals life experiences but would looking the same way eliminate things like racial discrimination... I don't think you fully grasped where I was going maybe I was not really being laconic. Regardless I appreciate your comment.
on Apr 29, 2004
Personally, I think that if everyone looked exactly the same, people would find some other charactoristic upon which to base their bias and discrimination. It seems to be human nature to develop biases against someone who is "different" regardless of what that difference is or whether it's actually a significant difference or not.

I'm hardly qualified to comment as to why we seem to do this, but it is my observation that we do tend to do so.
on Apr 29, 2004
At least for the moment I believe your opinion is a good prediction, generally speaking. If we are to overcome discrimination period, we would have to advance the way we think overall, not just the aspect of our appearance. Studies have shown that racial disrimination might have some biological underpinnings which if researched enough could give us a further understanding to exactly why we judge others in a negative light. If we can pin it down than we might be able to eliminate at least in the biological sense... I think I am being optimistic in hoping that we would be able to do that someday... I posted a blog a couple of months ago that dealt more with human nature and what it would take to create a one world government focusing on it's impact on humanity as a whole. heres the link if you're interested Link
on May 02, 2004
psychx, can i digress to your point about the removal of the differentiating features of the human animal ?

what a thought ... my yearnings in this area tended towards existing as "just a brain", but i find your concept much more appealing .

sadly, i am sure we would still find a way to be discriminatory ... the mind boggles as to what, though.

mig
on May 03, 2004
Maybe the finacial status someone has or their ancestry would be where we would find something to divide us. Unless we carried around some sort of identification that gives our background to the average joe, I couldn't see discrimination based on looks or judging someone right away. It just makes you think about what really is the cause of discrimination in the first place.
on May 03, 2004
i agree.

even your post title itself is apt in a sad way ... because, we are all the same ... somewhere.

i can imagine some 1984-style enforcement of a "class system" uniform of clothing to ensure everybody knew who was rich, who was poor, who was a native, who was a tourist ... if the powers that be said that wearing a blue sack meant you were rich, then you can bet most of us would be coveting that blue sack in much the same way we presently revere haute couture.

arrgghhh ! ... you make me think too much, psychx ! ... stop it at once. i am scaring myself.

mig
on May 03, 2004
heh, yes it got me lost in thought for a minute. It's scary and very detrimental to the concept of identity but humanity can be categorized. I'm glad I make you think, I scare myself too sometimes but it's fun some times just thinking of all the possibilities. oh and for a truly introspective post here is my article on vanity Link