Why the instinct to survive?

[LostDays]

I don't feel like sitting here all night to search through postings to see when this was last asked and I would like some fresh responses anyways... Why the instinct to survive?

Organic organisms spend an amazing amount of effort surviving, expending and collecting energy... Are human beings the only ones to ever stop and question why?

Why all the effort if all you are going to do is eat, sleep and shit anyways?

Why any effort at all, period.

[abaris]

Are human beings the only ones to ever stop and question why?

Fight or flight is something all species share.

[PerfectRecall17]

Why all the effort if all you are going to do is eat, sleep and shit anyways?

Why? No reason. It's all pretty pointless.

But it's a process. We only do these things because it's in our genetics to care. Otherwise we'd have died out long ago.

So I suspect the answer lies in evolution.

Note how that while most of us realize that it's all pointless, we go on living our lives anyway.

[The Grand Nudger]

Because things lacking that instinct never get around to asking that question?

[Whateverist]

For eons and eons of evolution no organism experienced an existential decision. There was no 'purpose' there were just those traits which promoted survival and procreation and those which didn't. That was enough for evolution to work with, selecting for survivors without any input from the participants.

[abaris]

Because things lacking that instinct never get around to asking that question?

What's more, they never get around fucking their own species. Hence they're not reproducing.

[LostDays]

Why all the effort if all you are going to do is eat, sleep and shit anyways?

Why? No reason. It's all pretty pointless.

But it's a process. We only do these things because it's in our genetics to care. Otherwise we'd have died out long ago.

So I suspect the answer lies in evolution.

Note how that while most of us realize that it's all pointless, we go on living our lives anyway.

But why... and why do human beings seem to be the only living organism that contemplates suicide?

Good for you, I am really glad you are able to walk through life and never question why... I would seriously love to not have to constantly ask that question... must be nice.

There are a lot of individuals out there who struggle with this very question. Look outside yourself for a moment?

[abaris]

But why... and why do human beings seem to be the only living organism that contemplates suicide?

Good for you, I am really glad you are able to walk through life and never question why... I would seriously love to not have to constantly ask that question... must be nice.

There are a lot of individuals out there who struggle with this very question. Look outside yourself for a moment?

Hold on just a second. Are you saying in a very complicated way, you're contemplating suicide?

[LostDays]

But WHY?! What is so fucking great about surviving anyways?! If you are human being who cultivates a good life for themselves then you would probably never ask the question... but what about those who don't? Or all other animals? I'm just gonna try really hard to survive, even though I don't know why...........

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But why... and why do human beings seem to be the only living organism that contemplates suicide?

Good for you, I am really glad you are able to walk through life and never question why... I would seriously love to not have to constantly ask that question... must be nice.

There are a lot of individuals out there who struggle with this very question. Look outside yourself for a moment?

Hold on just a second. Are you saying in a very complicated way, you're contemplating suicide?

I work with individuals who have severe mental health issues. It's a question I am asked constantly.

[Chad32]

Because not having a strong urge to survive leads to death, leaving the ones who do to spread their genes. That seems like a really stupid question. Why wouldn't we have an urge to survive? Hell just eating is one of the most enjoyable things I get out of life. I wish I could do it all the time without turning into a beach ball. I wish I could live purely off of sweets. Eating is awesome!