The animal nature of humans
Overview
All humans are naturally driven by urges that have served us to become the dominant form of life. As humans became more intelligent, enlightened, and the struggle for survival less difficult, many natural instincts became detrimental, over history methods have been developed to mitigate their control over individuals, but they still exist and drive our behavior.
The Izara Community attempts to create an ideal community based on self governance in the hope to solve serious issues with existing systems, with goals of peace, truth seeking and the hope of creating a society that can use knowledge and technology to serve all people.
An understanding of how our animal nature creates negative outcomes is pivotal for this, instincts that hinder the communities goals can be controlled through education and other techniques, forms of manipulation but with a socially understood goal to do good.
Some instincts are contradictory, the devil and angel on our shoulders, for example our natural instinct to create, be seen as a good, or care for people in need could be bolstered, and our instinct to see others fail undermined.
Religion
Over time religions have been a primary technique used to control negative animal natures, rather than being based on any scientific method they use stories, fear and dogma to alter behavior, techniques that can be manipulated by evil people.
The Izara Community attempts to be more scientific about reasons for rules put in place and through transparency and honesty rely on human intelligence to willingly choose to do good and create a better society.
Examples of animal nature
Us and them
In a competitive environment it makes sense to take care of those you have close ties with, starting with oneself, family, local community, then any larger groups that can be associated with.
This nature drives us to want to beat down those who can be grouped as others from us so they in turn cannot beat us down, this instinct is often exploited by those in power to divert attention and energy away for the evil they themselves do.
Greed and materialism
To survive it makes sense to accumulate all you can, in times of abundance such as the technically advanced time we live in greed is not necessary to survive, as long as the population makes a commitment to the protection and support of all people.
Women have an instinct to possess more than other women as it helps ensure their offspring will in turn have more than others. Men have a similar desire which is boosted by females choosing a sexual partner depending on whether the man has more than other men.
Mating
Men and women crave sex and reproduction in different ways, these cravings tie in with possessive greed and can result in behaviors contrary to the goals of an Izara Community.
A women's instinct is to chose a mate according to their ability to provide, those with power give stronger markers so are attractive. This can drive men to create positions of power and dominate over other men.
Kindness to others
Humans naturally have empathy and build social bonds which develop an instinct to care for others, this human nature becomes weaker the further disconnected we are from other people.
Humans want leaders who show that kindness to the community, or at least to the groups they are part of, in large societies this means leaders, who are likely uncaring to their population, pretending to by kind and have empathy for the people they lead.
In a community that strips away positions of power and teaches altruism the human nature to by kind to others can be reinforced.
Fear and hatred
When hatred is stirred up or fear is triggered humans stop thinking rationally, techniques to ensure any actions are justified and not the result of irrational fear or hatred should be taught, these emotions can be controlled so intelligent decisions are made.
Laziness
In times of limited resources it makes sense to rest at any opportunity, in times of abundance it pushes people to become lazy, both mentally and physically.
Build and create
Contrary to laziness humans have an instinct to make things better and create new things, this behavior should be encouraged so the community can scale and members have a strong work ethic.