The Railway Metaphor of Behavior
In previous entries I have compared the human behavior with the movements of a car. Acceleration being the instincts, the brake being rationality, both together determining, how much someone is driven by instincts, with the stirring wheel modifying the direction according to external influences.
I have been made aware of the fact, that this is an insufficient metaphor. Because it restricts the force of rationality to controlling the instincts, without being a positive force by itself.
Here is a better metaphor:
Humans are like a train with two locomotives, one at each end. The rail has two directions, one towards rational, individual goals, the other towards the instinctive goals of the survival of the species. Upon the rails, the direction of the train is determined by the net strength resulting from the relative power of both engines. This is determining the behavior as either more instinctive or more rational.
In previous entries I have compared the human behavior with the movements of a car. Acceleration being the instincts, the brake being rationality, both together determining, how much someone is driven by instincts, with the stirring wheel modifying the direction according to external influences.
I have been made aware of the fact, that this is an insufficient metaphor. Because it restricts the force of rationality to controlling the instincts, without being a positive force by itself.
Here is a better metaphor:
Humans are like a train with two locomotives, one at each end. The rail has two directions, one towards rational, individual goals, the other towards the instinctive goals of the survival of the species. Upon the rails, the direction of the train is determined by the net strength resulting from the relative power of both engines. This is determining the behavior as either more instinctive or more rational.
There are many rails and many junctions. Decisions are like the switches on the junctions, they are operated by education and by circumstances. Switches are either between rational alternatives in one direction or between instinctive alternatives in the other.
Both engines have an innate maximum power, but they also have an accelerator and a brake built in, which are operated by education and circumstances.
If one engine is much stronger than the other, the train moves in one direction only, with varying speed.
If both engines are of similar power, the train oscillates between both directions.
If there is no junction, the train does not get very far, else the train changes rails and goes on a zigzag course.
Dishomeostasis (entry 330) is a force on the accelerator of either of the engines, depending if it is a physical, instinctive need or an emotional and intellectual need. The impact of this force seizes, when reaching homeostasis and is reactivated at the recurrence of the dishomeostasis.
Both engines have an innate maximum power, but they also have an accelerator and a brake built in, which are operated by education and circumstances.
If one engine is much stronger than the other, the train moves in one direction only, with varying speed.
If both engines are of similar power, the train oscillates between both directions.
If there is no junction, the train does not get very far, else the train changes rails and goes on a zigzag course.
Dishomeostasis (entry 330) is a force on the accelerator of either of the engines, depending if it is a physical, instinctive need or an emotional and intellectual need. The impact of this force seizes, when reaching homeostasis and is reactivated at the recurrence of the dishomeostasis.
In the case of the zigzag course, there can be rational decisions, while moving in one direction, alternating with instinctive decisions when moving in the opposite direction.
