Knowledge and Fallacies: Exploring the Arguments of Psychology (Abbreviated Color Illustrated Edition)

Author: (Austrian) Mach
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: The Cultural Progress of Humans and Animals
The achievements of human civilization are obtained through primitive experience. Through cultural progress and the formation of society, the division of ranks, occupations, and crafts has been significantly improved, enabling the rapid development of human civilization. The experience gained by humans and animals differs in that humans, in their complex living environments, need a rich and passionate psychological life to adapt. The psychological life experience of young individuals is acquired from ancestors and (same species). Therefore, the psychological difference between humans and animals is quantitative rather than qualitative. The progress of human civilization, like that of animals, is accumulated through initial experiences.
When the fruits on the trees are not sufficient to satisfy hunger, humans immediately observe that they choose to hunt meat-eating animals through life experience reflexes. For example, the Indians who hide among animal herds wearing (reindeer masks), the Australian aborigines who use tubes to breathe underwater to hunt water birds, the Egyptians who stick their heads into gourds, and the fishermen who set up stakes and barriers during low tide.
Humans have gone through the stages of hunting, nomadism, and agricultural production, forcing them to accumulate new experiences and engage in endless new work. From the shell heaps on the shore, "the shell and bone heaps of the Middle and Late Stone Age," it is not difficult to see that there was almost no difference between the food of humans and animals during the Stone Age. Primitive people built their houses in places with dense branches or in caves, which is exactly the same as the way birds and fierce beasts choose their habitats. The Indians built circular huts by connecting the tops of trees, which gradually became larger rectangular huts. The building materials also gradually changed from wood to stone due to climatic conditions and the properties of available materials.
In satisfying their needs, humans and animals choose different ways. Generally, both are connected to surrounding objects through the muscles of their bodies. Animals, to fully satisfy their needs, either directly grasp what they need or avoid distracting objects. Humans, on the other hand, use their rich psychological experience and free choice, while also considering how to exclude objections and select the most comfortable way. By observing the activities of objects, even though these activities rarely have a direct relationship with them and are often used in daily life.
Humans understand that animals, such as birds, are not afraid of pumpkins, so they chose such masks. Humans capture small birds by throwing pellets, while monkeys struggle immensely but still fail to catch even one small bird. This is because humans have tested the effect of throwing pellets in planned activities. If monkeys had clothes, they would definitely like to wear them, but they lack the ability to obtain fur and branches. Monkeys sometimes use objects to strike enemies or hit fruits with stones. Humans have stabilized all the very advantageous methods, and this economical and practical talent is only possessed by higher animals.
Humans began by studying stones, making hammers and axes, and spending weeks sharpening their spears. Making weapons and tools brought convenience to their lives. Animals are not afraid of fake birds made of gourds, nor are they afraid of their companions. These masks are the choices they make.