x

LESSWRONG
LW

Ovidijus Šimkus — LessWrong

Ovidijus Šimkus

Ovidijus Šimkus

Message

-1

1

11mo

Ovidijus Šimkus

Meaning as a cognitive substitute for survival instincts: A thought experiment

Throughout human evolution, survival was the primary goal. Every action—finding food, seeking shelter, avoiding predators—was driven by primal instincts. However, with the rise of intelligence and technological progress, humans have constructed an environment where survival is no longer the primary daily challenge. Instead, our brains have adapted to fill this...

Mar 18, 2025•0

Message

-1 karma

1 post

Member for a year

Meaning as a cognitive substitute for survival instincts: A thought experiment

Ovidijus Šimkus

Ovidijus Šimkus

Ovidijus Šimkus

11mo

Throughout human evolution, survival was the primary goal. Every action—finding food, seeking shelter, avoiding predators—was driven by primal instincts. However, with the rise of intelligence and technological progress, humans have constructed an environment where survival is no longer the primary daily challenge. Instead, our brains have adapted to fill this cognitive void with something new: the pursuit of meaning.

I propose that the human search for meaning is not an inherent necessity, but rather an evolutionary byproduct—a repurposing of cognitive functions once dedicated to survival. Just as we once needed to hunt for food and avoid predators, our minds now 'hunt' for meaning and purpose, even in a world where survival is largely... (read 389 more words →)

0