Pavlovian Dogs

I sometimes think, in my more cynical and dark moments, that our species really has not evolved very much beyond our tribal roots. Examine our collective deportment today, and it is easy to draw the same conclusion that Khan observes in the following clip from the original Star Trek series:

Start at 2;26 of the clip:

Today, we don't have to look far for evidence of our primitive, often Pavlovian natures. The rising incidents of both virulent anti-Semitism and anti-Islamic hatred are ample testament to that fact. It is as if, once triggered, our basest impulses come to the fore, demanding extirpation of "the other." That these hate-fests are also happening regularly at universities and other institutions of 'higher learning' is especially concerning, since those are the places people go to presumably acquire critical-thinking skills, skills that are clearly not standing them in good stead.

Everywhere we look, people behave not as rational beings but as Pavlovian dogs. I saw a story recently on American news that suggests the pace of electric car sales is slowing considerably. The reason? Gas prices have fallen significantly in many states. Because they have, a new embrace of the internal combustion engine seems to be occurring. Consumers' reasoning apparently is  that gas prices are down, and they will always be down. I hope you apprehend the problem with that logic. I do recall that same mentality took hold in Canada not so long ago. Have you noticed how many trucks and huge SUVs that most don't need are currently on our roads?

That our higher faculties are an inconvenience to be navigated around is evident everywhere. That we are plunging headlong into total climate collapse should surprise no one, given our penchant for spewing larger and larger amounts of carbon into the atmosphere via our profligate personal choices in incessant travel and a myriad of other self-indulgences. Indeed, despite its well-known contribution to global heating, people cannot stop themselves from idling in their cars for minutes on end, either to run the air-conditioning in summer or the heat in winter.

I have not bothered to place any links in this post to back up my assertions. Supporting evidence is painfully all too easy to find, if you are so inclined.

Sometimes it feels like the world is going to the dogs, doesn't it? 

End of rant.