Part 8: Making Choices

In the animal kingdom, where sexual selection is important in the propagation of the gene pool,
There are different courtship behaviors.
These are the common methods which males in the animal kingdom employ to attract females.

1) Gift Giving: Scorpion fly would wrap cocoon using leaves or twigs to try to sian the females.
2) Perfumed sensation: Male Red spotted newt would release pheromones that serve as an aphrodisiac. The females would not be able to resist.
3) Mating Game: The dominant male would have a harem of females. A satellite male would employ tactics to distract the females and to display characteristics mimicking the dominant male to draw her away from the harem.
4) Fighting fit: Rosters would use the spurs on their legs to battle for the female.
5) Secondary sex display: Peacocks would develop special sexual organs, ornaments to attract females.

Don’t humans behave like animals?
The guy who showers and displays material wealth on/to the girl.
The good looking and hunky guy that oozes with masculinity.
The guys who waits when girls are most vulnerable to make their moves.
Guys who compete with one another to prove they are ‘better’ than the other.
Guys who strut their stuff, showing off their abilities and wealth to girls.


However, there is one particular trait that humans have that animals do not.
Humans have the freedom of choice.
(lets take it at face value and not look into apparent freedom and that we're still influenced by pheromones, hormones etc...)

And we can base our choices on many factors.
Unlike animals which are bound by their instincts, mating physiological adaptations,etc..
humans can make choices based on rationality, emotionality, gut feel etc..
We can be totally illogical, and because we feel good about it, go with the least ‘attractive’ mate.
We can be totally logical and still choose the least ‘attractive’ mate, just because we feel good about it.
Plus we can rationalize, and give ourselves all the reasons in the world on why the choices we make are logical, consistent and hence ‘right’ (this moral argument about right and wrong is another issue altogether…)

For animals its simple. They go straight for the best looking, best smelling, fastest, strongest etc. We can often choose poorly, going after the ugliest, poorest etc etc.

(On a side note, my personal theory on one of the reasons why we developed the ability of ‘choice could stem from the fact that because man is so adaptable and not limited in his environment, we move around and get to mix with many of our own species. Hence there is no pressure to look for the most attractive mate. And that could give rise to the complex social structure that we have, our behaviors... because there is so pressure to breed, we take our time to explore ourselves and our future mates. This ability to choose is no longer based on physiological factors but by our highly evolved brain. This allows us to compare and contrast the sensory perceptions we get in ‘moving around’ and not mating during the first attractive mate we see. Some individuals sensory perceptions becomes ordered and layered and driven by the need to mate (we cannot roam around all the time and not mate), a choice must be made. That gives rise to cognitive abilities. And the need to make choices gives rise to self awareness. Consciousness is born… Ermmm I’m simply sprouting nonsense without technical nor logical consideration. Hehe.. maybe one day I’ll work on this. The mystery of consciousness. My favorite problem!)

Anyway Why is this so, this ability to choose and to make ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ choices?
Perhaps this is a form of selection advantage, where in making ‘wrong’ choices or different mixture of choices, there is greater variation. And we all know variation is the key to survival…

So how do we come to make 'good' and 'right' choices?
like I said, good and right are moral issues.
What is considered good?
What is considered right?


Will continue on this entry another time… to be updated!


As for me? How do I go on making my choice?
Hmmm.. I can go on about the whole philosophy on making choices, or the issues on right and good.
But as a cognitive shortcut, i choose to base it on my 'heart'.
Don't ask me or diss me on what is 'heart'.
I dun wanna go into an ontological argument here.

My 'heart' is what 'I feel'.
There is no point in using logic alone. Because our ability to rationalise 'wrong' into 'right' often spoils everything.
As long as the choice that i make doesnt 'feel' 'bad' or 'wrong', and that it feels so darn good, thats the 'right' choice.

Like what I wrote to this person a week ago...
I followed my heart.I thought hard with my head
I compared and I contrasted.
And I searched deep within my mind and my soul.

Everything will point in one direction.
That direction can not be denied.
Unless you 'choose' to deny it.

Whether its a reality or a 'cruel fate'...
It all boils down on choice.

Destiny awaits...