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, but they still exist and drive our behaviour.
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 relieve suffering.
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 be seen by other people as a good or to care for people in need should be bolstered, while our instinct to see others fail should be controlled.
Religion
Over time religions have been one of the primary techniques to control negative animal natures, however rather than being based on any Scientific method they use stories, fear and dogma to alter behavior. 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 be better people 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.
Sex
Men and women crave sex and reproduction in different ways, but these cravings which tie in with possessive greed drive many destructive behaviors.
Fear and hatred
When hatred is stirred up or fear is triggered humans stop thinking rationally, techniques to ensure any reaction is justified should be taught, and the effect of these emotions dampened so intelligent decisions can be made.