Being Humans Together

In this episode of Being Humans Together we explore the paradigm shift from the widespread acceptance of determinism to human agency or the ability to choose. We discuss both theological and scientific philosophies about determinism and rebuttal them in turn. Then we explore the range of physical limitation and constraints on free will. We conclude by explaining the myriad ways that we do indeed exert our agency or will to choose and act, from eye contact, to thoughts, to actions. And we emphasize the importance of exercising and growing our agency to improve our lives and our world.

Meaning and Purpose are Operationalized Consciousness.

Meaning is (shared) understanding or interpretation of the past.The negation of meaning is isolation or nihilism. Meaning is narrative, order, connectivity, construction of wholeness.

Purpose is narrative, constructed order for the future--plans, goals, mission, direction for present work.

Will or Agency is how we act on our consciousness or operationalize our consciousness now in the present.

Presentness is a powerful way of orienting ourselves to overcome stress, anxiety, guilt, daydreaming, and fear.

There are no feral humans. While a fish or a reptile can hatch, grow, and reproduce without complex training, human children do not and cannot develop consciousness, language, healthy emotions, or social awareness in isolation. Caregivers make humans by showing them over and over again how to communicate, respond, share, cooperate, compete, agree, disagree, problem solve. Caregivers literally teach awareness, agency, and consciousness. Agency and consciousness are rooted in our relations with other people -- our caregivers, our peers, and from authorities in our societies and cultures. Language, ideas, memes, and principles are taught, passed around, and shared between us. We crave contact, communion, and cooperation with other human beings. In this episode we also consider the role of spirit and body in consciousness, and how spiritual approaches can elevate our perspective and goals. I recognize my debt to Jordan Peterson, Jonathan Pageau, Paul Vander Klay, Andrew and Spencer Klavan, Jordan Hall, and others. Finally, we explain how consciousness is a symbolic, meaningful dance.

Two paradigm shifts help us understand what human consciousness is and how it arises.

First, a lot of the smart kids, the ones with the doctorate degrees, think that consciousness is largely an illusion and that your actions are determined, or in other words, that you do not have the ability to choose your own actions. Second, most approaches to understanding consciousness are scientific and reductionist.

In response, I will try to demonstrate to you first, that consciousness is an emergent principle of networked human minds in relationship with one another; and second, that amidst the infinite complexity of your creative mind in relation with other unknowably complex human minds, there is ample of scope to choose and act in creative, novel ways according to your cultivated will power.

You are not a meat robot. You are not determined by the motions of genes or proteins, or even powerful human institutions. You are a conscious, self-aware agent. Your family helped you develop into such a conscious being. You are connected with dozens of other conscious humans. All of us looking at each other, copying each other, telling so many stories, singing so many songs. But also singing and telling fundamentally similar human songs and stories.

You are not alone. You are connected. Your life, your existence, your thoughts and feelings, are connected through your memories and shared experiences, and through your actual relationships and cooperative activities with dozens and hundreds of other humans who know you and care about you. And through our overlapping networks of relationships and out communities, we are all interconnected.

My personal journey to making Being Humans Together.

So what took me so long to share this?

1. Fear. Imposter Syndrome.

2. I needed to learn some basic content creation skills, then invest the time to do this.

3. Most importantly, I was institutionalized by my corporate job and my religion.

What changed all of that? It sort of began with COVID. COVID closed down my corporate offices. I escaped my cubicle, and I became a remote worker. But my church closed down too, which I found very difficult. What follows is my journey to seeing the power of institutions and how healthy communities are hard to find. My family and I eventually went on the road to build family relationships and community, and finally, to reach out to you here on Being Humans Together.

Thanks for being here with us.

Local communities are often nested within institutions. The key aspects of community-based institutions are: core ideals or principles, leadership, and community membership. We discuss each of these in detail, including hierarchies of values, community schisms over changing values, leadership structures and weaknesses, and the importance of active membership in healthy communities. Understanding and applying these principles can help each of us engage communities and make our participation more empowering and effectual.

We continue to explore the modern conflict between state-corporate institutions and the relationships and communities that form an organic society. Most of us are very familiar with institutions-- from schools to universities to corporations to governments. In this episode we discuss what communities are and what they are not. We lay out the circles of relationships that form the foundation of communities. We consider the commercialization of relationships. And we encourage you to engage with your communities to make a difference!

How have you been institutionalized by governments and corporations? The triumph of the institutions of the state and corporations over relations and communities has affected all aspects of our modern societies. We consider the ways we have all been institutionalized, from daycare and school to state institutions, to corporations and consumerism. We conclude by pointing toward the revitalization of relationships and communities.