BIOLOGICAL REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PAST1
“EMPIRICALLY, ALL OVER THE WORLD, SOCIAL PRACTICES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO LET NON-RATIONAL FORCES MANIFEST THEMSELVES UNDER SOMEWHAT CONTROLLED CONDITIONS.
IN ANIMALS, INCLUDING THE HIGHER PRIMATES, MOST BEHAVIOR IS INSTINCTIVE AND INTELLECTUALLY NEUTRAL. IT IS RARELY IF EVER ORIENTED TOWARD A DISTANT FUTURE THAT THE ANIMAL TRIES TO PREDICT AND TO BRING ABOUT WILLFULLY.
IN CONTRAST, OUR RESPONSES TO MOST ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI ARE PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY ANTICIPATION OF THE FUTURE, WHETHER THESE ANTICIPATIONS ARE BASED ON FEAR, FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE, DESIRE FOR ACHIEVEMENT, OR MERELY WISHFUL THINKING.”
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