If human nature is so strong then why do different cultures exist ?
Lets face it in the ancient world where it was more pronounced (there is a lot of homogenisation from mass media these days. So the difference between a Yank, a Pom or an Aussie isn't really all THAT pronounced) people who lived just 20 kilometres apart might as well have been another species.
You could walk from Rome to Cisalpine Gaul in a matter of days. So as I said if there is a strong and powerful HUMAN NATURE why do we have so many different cultures. All animals have instinct and we certainly do, but we are rare in the sense that we do not have to fill those instincts straight away. I am hungry right now, but I am also finishing a report for work. I will wait til after I am done to make myself some toast. I am fighting my nature right this second.
I understand perfectly what you are saying. You are not wrong really.
Its just that human nature and culture are two different things entirely. They are responses to stimuli. Human nature is primarily derived from how the world shapes us across the course of billions or years.ie comes from the world around us affecting us; culture comes from other brains affecting us.
Also, remember that human nature is in our programming from birth, and culture is programmed into us after we are born.
Humans catch mind viruses. We like what others like, we are swayed by what others think. You basically are what you think. We are impressionable, and our minds cannot filter to any great extent....if you hear something you must consider it. If you hang around crims, you are likely to become a crim for example. If you just know losers, you will no doubt be a loser....if your friends all play soccer, you will likely try to play soccer. Its from our ape-days mostly, a pack mentality that ensured our survival.
One of the best things you can do in your life is to hang around only people who share the same set of ideals as you.
As to culture. Its an extension of this, but remember, culture is a result of the stimulus on your brain by OTHER brains. You can take one group of people and put them on one side of a hill and another on the other....and let them never cross paths for a 1000 years....they would share some traits, sure...but you would notice that for instance, they would have a different language, dress differently, have slightly different ideals. Each group would shape itself differently.
You brain simply reacts to stimulus, and it interprets whats happening around it always, it never stops. Everyone's nature is shaped by the influences in their lives.
As to the clash between toast and your report not entirely true. You see, we are selfish. But we are also gratification-now creatures. We are selfish because it helps us survive. ...your brain is weighing up which option will give you the greater pay-off....but your brain can only primarily assess the short-term benefit. You must think much harder and delay gratification, going to considerable effort, if the option you deem best is a longer-termed one.
The whole gratification now princible is thought to be the single most contributing factor as to why so many people achieve little in their lives. Anything great in life is usually the result of a lot of hard work over the period of a long time. This takes effort, but because the way our brains work, always assessing the greatest short term benefit over longer ones (for supposed survival purposes), few people achieve their full potential.
For weaker people...do they study real hard, or do they party all night with mates....one will bring them a good career in which they are happy but it will take a long time with much hard sacrifice....the other will give them pleasure right away but will lead to a life time of no money and little joy.
Your brain is a powerful tool, but remember it comes preprogrammed in many areas, not all are beneficial these days. Your brain is another muscle, and you must use it right.
Why? Well because in times gone by, life expectancy was short....from a baby you grew up into adolescence, had kids as soon as possible, probably by the age of 15 or 20 most definately...then you lived for maybe 10 years or more before some animal got you or you died of disease, etc...so because life was short, by 30 or so you were dead...there was no reason to give a thought to a longer time-period.
These days...we live for up to 120 years, so a longer time-frame must be taken into consideration...but our brains really work their best with the 30 year time-frame. It takes much more effort to think about the long term...in fact most people really dont care enough, but its through no fault of their own.
