Protopopov and Instincts. Column in ComputerreOnline #36

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Dmytro Shabanov
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Who passes through the filter? Protopopov and instincts Problems of interpretation

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{ "title": "Who Passes Through the Filter? Protopopov and Instincts. Problems of Interpretation", "summary": "The article discusses the role of instincts in human behavior and the views of Anatoly Protopopov on this topic. The author, Dmytro Shabanov, reflects on Protopopov's book 'Instincts of Man' and his lecture at a conference on biology.", "body": "The idea that even our most elevated spiritual manifestations can depend on such 'lowly' things as emotional background and physiological state of the organism seems absolutely obvious to some, while others find it ridiculous, outragous, and immoral. Alexander Markov notes that these views often lead to refusal to believe in the existence of the other.

At the Kharkov biofaculty, where I work, a regular conference for young scientists is held. Its topics cover all of biology, from biochemistry to ecology. Several hundred participants submit materials, and about one and a half to two hundred take part in the work.

The conference is organized by students themselves. If they are sometimes reproached, it is not for not following guiding instructions, but for solving complex issues without consulting, and therefore not taking into account unknown circumstances. When guests from outside praise the cultural level and activity of our students, their words seem to be more than just politeness.

In recent years, the student organizing committee has invited established scientists, not young ones, to give plenary reports at the opening of the conference. This allows participants to see specialists they would not otherwise see. In 2008, Alexander Nikolsky, a well-known Russian specialist in the organization of protected areas, gave a plenary report at our conference. In 2009, Alexander Markov presented a report on the mechanisms of evolutionary origin of altruistic behavior.

This year, Anatoly Protopopov continued the tradition. His visit to us was partly a result of my columns in 'Computerra'. In the summer, I wrote four columns related to problems of human sex relations. Readers of CT are a literate people; many of them began to compare what I wrote with Protopopov's 'Treatise on Love, as it is understood by a terrible bore'.

The mail of Anatoly Ilyich is on his website protopop.chat.ru; I asked for his opinion. As expected, he did not experience horror or offense. In general, our views converge, although I placed some accents differently. Anatoly Ilyich suggested that I participate in the discussion of his next book, written with Alexei Vyazovsky.

I was glad to be one of its first readers and to some extent influence the features of its final version. Anatoly Ilyich showed that he is not a dogmatist, but he firmly adheres to his approach and way of reasoning. As a result, I suggested to students that they invite Anatoly Ilyich to the conference.

So, on November 22, Anatoly Protopopov spoke at the opening of the conference 'Biology: from molecule to biosphere' with the report 'Does an instinct of denial of instincts exist?' and on November 23, he conducted a round table 'Instinctive foundations of human mating behavior and other debatable questions'.

[IMG_1]

Fragment of Anatoly Protopopov's report. It's true, to better understand a person, it's useful to see how he speaks? Video and photos from the conference by V. Inshina

Unfortunately, Protopopov does not speak very well in public. He was not lucky: before and after him, high-class lecturers (professor-geneticist and professor-biochemist) spoke, able to keep the audience with just their voice modulations. But a lot of people came to the round table.

As always at such events, the audience was heterogeneous: some read the 'Treatise', others did not. Those who encountered the topic for the first time had to be introduced to the circle of ideas.

[IMG_2]

The round table was held in the hall of the Academic Council of our university, which is 208 years old

The peculiarities of mating behavior of highly organized dioecious animals seriously affect the chances of an individual to leave offspring and are controlled by selection. In most species, mating behavior is directed instinctively; only a few have elements of learning. The action of instincts is manifested in a change in emotional background, physiological motivation of an individual to certain actions.

Instincts are triggered by certain signals that allow an individual to evaluate a conspecific as a highly valuable partner (or, on the contrary, as an uninteresting object for joint production of offspring). We belong to a species of animals in which many levers of behavior control have been taken over by consciousness - a complex product of cultural heredity.

Instincts act in us as well, and still in the form of motivations and emotions. Consciousness does not directly perceive the work of instincts. The mind can be sure that it independently controls behavior, even when it only ensures the fulfillment of tasks set by instincts. Instincts are anachronistic: they reflect the features of selection that took place in our evolutionary past.

They are still turned on when recognizing fairly simple signals.

[IMG_3]

Protopopov's new book goes deeper than the 'Treatise'; the author tries to cover the entire field of instinctive regulation of our behavior

Of course, not all instincts are covered in the new book in equal detail. Anatoly Ilyich's 'favorite' topic is the instinct of vertical consolidation (VC), which builds social verticals. The action of the instinct of horizontal consolidation (HC) is harder to observe, although its existence cannot be doubted.

I, by the way, do not think that HC can work effectively without involving elements (but only elements!) of VC. This is how the conference organizers worked? Within a non-rigid hierarchical structure, an active level is allocated, where horizontal self-organization takes place. There are leaders there, but they are not authoritarian dominants...

I'll tell you about a circumstance that surprised me. The audience at the round table was twice selected: these were participants in a biological conference who came to the round table with the author of the 'Treatise'. Nevertheless, during two and a half hours of conversation, five assertions like the following emerged: 'You claim here that human behavior is completely determined by instincts...'; 'Instincts only work in people who were raised not on the traditions of our people, but on Hollywood movies...'; 'By encouraging instinctive behavior, you push young people to immorality and debauchery...'.

It seems that simple thoughts need to be repeated again and again, prompting fellow citizens to abandon a Manichean, black-and-white perception of our innate programs. From Anatoly Ilyich's point of view, a false dichotomy looks like this. Either instincts are unnatural, or they are part of our nature, which in everyday thinking is considered perfect.

In the second case, it seems that instincts should also be considered perfect. The way out of this impasse, which is chosen by short-sighted people, is as follows: there are no instincts in a person at all. The correct solution is that our nature is neither perfect nor sacred. And what makes many of us seek some kind of perfection pole? From Protopopov's point of view - the instinct of VC.

It seems to me that it is useful to look at the problem from this angle. Our nature is neither good nor bad; it cannot be applied moral criteria that describe a situation of moral choice. If I could hit, or I could refrain, my choice can be evaluated according to 'good-bad' criteria.

And what I have instincts in my psyche is not a result of someone's choice. But actions that are influenced by both instincts and culture-based consciousness can and should be evaluated. How should our consciousness deal with instincts? Declare them non-existent - fall under the power of neuroses, lose adequacy.

Surrender to their mercy - lose the advantages of a rational and cultural being. So, you need to learn to understand them and adjust your goals and actions taking into account both rational interests and the requirements of innate programs. He who harmonizes the work of two inseparable parts of our psyche will be happy.

And you?

We are still very close
to relatives with hairy sides,
many of our feelings are quadruped,
and some are even with fins.
Igor Guberman" }

I am illiterate because I haven't read Protopopov; I am stupid because I haven't understood Protopopov; I am dishonest because I have appropriated Protopopov's ideas as my own.

Anatoliy Ilyich's e-mail is on his website protopop.chat.ru; I asked for his opinion. As expected, he felt neither horror nor offense. Most importantly, our views coincide, although I have placed some accents differently (for example, it seems to me that, in addition to the "mating fee" characteristic of many species, in humans one can also see a "hope fee"). Only a dogmatist will see heresy in such a change of emphasis. Anatoliy Ilyich invited me to participate in the discussion of his next book, written with the participation of Oleksiy Vyazovskyi. I was glad to become one of its first readers and, to some extent, influence the specifics of its final version. Anatoliy Ilyich showed that he is not a dogmatist (I managed to convince him on some controversial issues), but he firmly adheres to the approach and reasoning he has developed (we never found agreement on some points). As a result, I gave the students the idea to invite Anatoliy Ilyich to the conference. Thus, on November 22, Anatoliy Protopopov spoke at the opening of the conference "Biology: From Molecule to Biosphere" with the report "Does the Instinct of Denying Instincts Exist?", and on November 23, he held a round table "Instinctive Foundations of Human Mating Behavior and Other Controversial Issues." In addition, at this conference, he presented his new book (A. Vyazovskyi, A. Protopopov. Human Instincts. An Attempt at Description and Classification. Yakutsk: "Dani AlmaS" Company, 2011. 144 pp.). I found it interesting; at least some conference participants did. I will elaborate: I hope this will help in understanding the ideas discussed. In his report, Anatoliy Ilyich tried to link the rejection of the instinctive basis of our behavior by many people with the instinct of vertical consolidation (formation of hierarchical social systems) embedded in us. I cannot say that he finally convinced me. It seems to me that referring to this mechanism is not enough to explain the active rejection of Protopopov's (and ethological in general) ideas in a significant part of society.

{ "title": "Who Passes Through the Filter? Protopopov and Instincts. Problems of Interpretation", "summary": "The article discusses the role of instincts in human behavior and the views of Anatoly Protopopov on this topic. The author, Dmytro Shabanov, reflects on Protopopov's book 'Instincts of Man' and his lecture at a conference on biology.", "body": "The idea that even our most elevated spiritual manifestations can depend on such 'lowly' things as emotional background and physiological state of the organism seems absolutely obvious to some, while others find it ridiculous, outragous, and immoral. Alexander Markov notes that these views often lead to refusal to believe in the existence of the other.

At the Kharkov biofaculty, where I work, a regular conference for young scientists is held. Its topics cover all of biology, from biochemistry to ecology. Several hundred participants submit materials, and about one and a half to two hundred take part in the work.

The conference is organized by students themselves. If they are sometimes reproached, it is not for not following guiding instructions, but for solving complex issues without consulting, and therefore not taking into account unknown circumstances. When guests from outside praise the cultural level and activity of our students, their words seem to be more than just politeness.

In recent years, the student organizing committee has invited established scientists, not young ones, to give plenary reports at the opening of the conference. This allows participants to see specialists they would not otherwise see. In 2008, Alexander Nikolsky, a well-known Russian specialist in the organization of protected areas, gave a plenary report at our conference. In 2009, Alexander Markov presented a report on the mechanisms of evolutionary origin of altruistic behavior.

This year, Anatoly Protopopov continued the tradition. His visit to us was partly a result of my columns in 'Computerra'. In the summer, I wrote four columns related to problems of human sex relations. Readers of CT are a literate people; many of them began to compare what I wrote with Protopopov's 'Treatise on Love, as it is understood by a terrible bore'.

The mail of Anatoly Ilyich is on his website protopop.chat.ru; I asked for his opinion. As expected, he did not experience horror or offense. In general, our views converge, although I placed some accents differently. Anatoly Ilyich suggested that I participate in the discussion of his next book, written with Alexei Vyazovsky.

I was glad to be one of its first readers and to some extent influence the features of its final version. Anatoly Ilyich showed that he is not a dogmatist, but he firmly adheres to his approach and way of reasoning. As a result, I suggested to students that they invite Anatoly Ilyich to the conference.

So, on November 22, Anatoly Protopopov spoke at the opening of the conference 'Biology: from molecule to biosphere' with the report 'Does an instinct of denial of instincts exist?' and on November 23, he conducted a round table 'Instinctive foundations of human mating behavior and other debatable questions'.

[IMG_1]

Fragment of Anatoly Protopopov's report. It's true, to better understand a person, it's useful to see how he speaks? Video and photos from the conference by V. Inshina

Unfortunately, Protopopov does not speak very well in public. He was not lucky: before and after him, high-class lecturers (professor-geneticist and professor-biochemist) spoke, able to keep the audience with just their voice modulations. But a lot of people came to the round table.

As always at such events, the audience was heterogeneous: some read the 'Treatise', others did not. Those who encountered the topic for the first time had to be introduced to the circle of ideas.

[IMG_2]

The round table was held in the hall of the Academic Council of our university, which is 208 years old

The peculiarities of mating behavior of highly organized dioecious animals seriously affect the chances of an individual to leave offspring and are controlled by selection. In most species, mating behavior is directed instinctively; only a few have elements of learning. The action of instincts is manifested in a change in emotional background, physiological motivation of an individual to certain actions.

Instincts are triggered by certain signals that allow an individual to evaluate a conspecific as a highly valuable partner (or, on the contrary, as an uninteresting object for joint production of offspring). We belong to a species of animals in which many levers of behavior control have been taken over by consciousness - a complex product of cultural heredity.

Instincts act in us as well, and still in the form of motivations and emotions. Consciousness does not directly perceive the work of instincts. The mind can be sure that it independently controls behavior, even when it only ensures the fulfillment of tasks set by instincts. Instincts are anachronistic: they reflect the features of selection that took place in our evolutionary past.

They are still turned on when recognizing fairly simple signals.

[IMG_3]

Protopopov's new book goes deeper than the 'Treatise'; the author tries to cover the entire field of instinctive regulation of our behavior

Of course, not all instincts are covered in the new book in equal detail. Anatoly Ilyich's 'favorite' topic is the instinct of vertical consolidation (VC), which builds social verticals. The action of the instinct of horizontal consolidation (HC) is harder to observe, although its existence cannot be doubted.

I, by the way, do not think that HC can work effectively without involving elements (but only elements!) of VC. This is how the conference organizers worked? Within a non-rigid hierarchical structure, an active level is allocated, where horizontal self-organization takes place. There are leaders there, but they are not authoritarian dominants...

I'll tell you about a circumstance that surprised me. The audience at the round table was twice selected: these were participants in a biological conference who came to the round table with the author of the 'Treatise'. Nevertheless, during two and a half hours of conversation, five assertions like the following emerged: 'You claim here that human behavior is completely determined by instincts...'; 'Instincts only work in people who were raised not on the traditions of our people, but on Hollywood movies...'; 'By encouraging instinctive behavior, you push young people to immorality and debauchery...'.

It seems that simple thoughts need to be repeated again and again, prompting fellow citizens to abandon a Manichean, black-and-white perception of our innate programs. From Anatoly Ilyich's point of view, a false dichotomy looks like this. Either instincts are unnatural, or they are part of our nature, which in everyday thinking is considered perfect.

In the second case, it seems that instincts should also be considered perfect. The way out of this impasse, which is chosen by short-sighted people, is as follows: there are no instincts in a person at all. The correct solution is that our nature is neither perfect nor sacred. And what makes many of us seek some kind of perfection pole? From Protopopov's point of view - the instinct of VC.

It seems to me that it is useful to look at the problem from this angle. Our nature is neither good nor bad; it cannot be applied moral criteria that describe a situation of moral choice. If I could hit, or I could refrain, my choice can be evaluated according to 'good-bad' criteria.

And what I have instincts in my psyche is not a result of someone's choice. But actions that are influenced by both instincts and culture-based consciousness can and should be evaluated. How should our consciousness deal with instincts? Declare them non-existent - fall under the power of neuroses, lose adequacy.

Surrender to their mercy - lose the advantages of a rational and cultural being. So, you need to learn to understand them and adjust your goals and actions taking into account both rational interests and the requirements of innate programs. He who harmonizes the work of two inseparable parts of our psyche will be happy.

And you?

We are still very close
to relatives with hairy sides,
many of our feelings are quadruped,
and some are even with fins.
Igor Guberman" }

←
Dmytro Shabanov
→

Who passes through the filter? Protopopov and instincts Problems of interpretation

Column in KompyuterraOnline #35 Column in KompyuterraOnline #36 Column in KompyuterraOnline #37