The evolution of character

in #evolution6 years ago (edited)

Biological evolution functions on very basic principles.

  • Seemingly random mutations introduce a variety of traits into the gene pool of a species.
  • The species traits drift and change ever so slightly over time
  • The surrounding environment "selects" from amoungst these slight changes for those traits that are most fit or beneficial
  • The benefited individuals out-compete their rivals and increase more rapidly in number
  • The less "fit" are replaced over time by the more "fit" and faster reproducing individuals
  • The entire species changes gradually over time and with sufficient time divergent successful branches may diverge sufficiently to become new species.
  • New species interact with older species and also may alter many of the interacting aspects within their environment

In short the environment changes species and species in turn change the environment


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The principles iterated through in this process are not unique to biological evolution.

Its seems that evolutionary principles are one of the most effective ways to adapt to an ever changing environment which also in turn further adapt that environment.

Lets take a look at these principles in action when it comes to the evolution of each of our characters.

  • Our mind is awash with seemingly random thoughts which may or may not lead to feelings.
  • Our minds may simply drift allowing for plenty of variety in these thoughts
  • We actively select certain thoughts and feelings to focus on, pruning out others, one simply need to think of dreams to see the variety that thrives when no pruning is done within the environment of the mind.
  • The more we focus on certain thoughts, themes begin to develop and the less persistent other unassociated thoughts fall by the wayside
  • Fully developed thought themes lead to actions and reactions
  • These actions/reactions reinforce the thoughts that led to them
  • Over time patterns of thoughts and actions develop into habits and become ingrained

In short the thoughts we select to entertain mold our actions and or actions mold our long term character.

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If you've ever had the opportunity to watch an infant grow into adulthood, you know how amazing the transformation is. And if you're that child's parent, you are probably even more awestruck and humbled by the experience.

For writers, the characters they create are akin to virtual "offspring". After all, the authors have given life to them and created situations whereby those characters can grow and change. The resulting metamorphoses and epiphanies make up the basis for strong character development.

But your characters can not "grow up" within a vacuum; they need your assistance. Like a parent, you have to be willing to allow your characters to take chances by putting them into a variety of situations. Otherwise, the characters can not hope to evolve into full fleshed-out persons. This process could best be described as character evolution.

@gavvet, Sir please look in to this matter, That is a totally copy pasting work from @umairkhalid . Not is his creative idea. If you have any doubt please check this link.
http://www.explorewriting.co.uk/characterevolution.html

Where is a cheetah? Cheetah always find copy pasting link. But this time not?

I guess cheetah only looks at the main post, not the comments. It is probably the first time I have seen someone plagiarise a comment. Apparently, it has its rewards though.

But your characters can not "grow up" within a vacuum; they need your assistance. Like a parent, you have to be willing to allow your characters to take chances by putting them into a variety of situations. Otherwise, the characters can not hope to evolve into full fleshed-out persons. This process could best be described as character evolution.
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Excellent article and I think that a person sows thoughts and reaps actions. Sowing actions, he reaps a habit. Sowing a habit, he reaps a character. Sowing character, he reaps a destiny. Man creates his own destiny with the help of his thoughts and actions. He can change destiny. He is the creator of his own destiny. And there is no doubt about that. Right thinking and a determined effort, he can become a master of his own destiny. Thank you @gavvet

Man creates his own destiny with the help of his thoughts and actions

this is a half truth... he can be master of his destiny when he understands the "cosmic principles", immutable forces ruling the Universe and obeys them first. I blog a lot about it.

But it's true, do not you agree? I think if a person wants to change his destiny, he turns to the laws of the universe and the universe, for he is part of this universe!

Seemingly random mutations

seemingly??? sorry random mutations is a term used when science has no explanation, completely clueless :)

The "evolution-competition" premise is a half truth... it is not the fittest, not the smartest that survive but the one that is more flexible/adaptable. Generally the fittest and the smartest neglect the flexibility factor and become its victims.

The human species will survive intellectually the day populations realize that Humanity is a body and start developing empathy. The "individual competition dogma" is tearing society apart and paves the way for the next world war and/or total technological enslavement.

I blog a lot about it

Not "fit", as in does a lot of exercise... but "fit" in the sense that it best fits its environment, is better suited or adapted to the environment, as you put it.

for humans it does not work that way... empathy and mental flexibility are key. Competition (theory of the fittest) is antagonist to that. Look at all these ideologies, none will survive. Humans are meant to collaborate peacefully. Voluntarily.

Too harsh the environmental conditions accelerate the process of evolution. But the faster flows the evolution of a species, the higher the likelihood of deviations and mutations.

Does it work with our character, according to your theory? A more difficult life situations cause more thoughts. More thoughts, the stronger the struggle, the evolution of character is going faster. As a result- the occurrence of abnormalities in the form of psychological injuries, deviations and shortcomings in behaviour/character.

difficulties do not cause more thoughts but more "rigorous selection", since fewer options are generally available during difficult times. When your hand is in a meat grinder it would be a lot less likely that one would be daydreaming of a day at the beach.

Great post. What we focus on expand. I am working on myself, so I could "break the mould".

Over time patterns of thoughts and actions develop into habits and become ingrained.

It is likely to say that if you want to know how someone thinks, you check the lifestyle of such person. It there means a positive person can hardly surround himself with negative thoughts or negative thoughts are the list in his mind.

Absolutely agree with you. The fact that we are dealing day after day. The ability to control one's actions shapes the character, and thanks to the character, a person is able to build his life.

It's great to read your comparison between evolution and human character, @gavvet. But how do you marry biologically acclaimed physical changes through evolution with philosophical changes in human behaviour? Does it mean that changes in human behaviour can't be reversed by change of mindset, just like biological changes are irreversible?

Similarity of principles does not require the comparison to be exact. But think on this, whales and dolphins are land mammals that went back to living in water.

Well, that's only true in the biological cycle but what are the physical proof that whales and dolphins ever lived on land before, seeing we also have reptiles living both on land and water? The biological evolution is highly questionable and lack proofs because because if a specie developed new features and change environment , we should'nt have other species living and surviving in the harbitat others migrated from. Example, if Africans are living in Africa because they are blacks, then only blacks should live in Africa. But if both white and black people can live in Africa, there's no justification that we are here because we are black.

When Europeans arrived in America they had Turkeys with them which were left there, when the next batch of explorers/settlers arrived, these Turkeys had evolved into a totally different variety! Good Post, thank you.

This is the "thoughts are things analogy". Whether it is correct to apply this to an evolutionary model is debatable. As @earthcustodians suggested, flexibility is the key to evolutionary survival. Linear evolution only occurs when conditions remain identical.
So it sounds good as positive thinking/personal motivation "parable" but is it a solid argument?

I think its comparable on the basis that:

  • there is variety in the mind
  • selection occurs from this variety
  • this selection leads to longer term effects

This is hardly an attempt at motivational/positive thinking rhetoric or "thoughts are things" but simply a look at some similarities in principles

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