Scientists have argued whether or not dreams have a true purpose when it comes to humans. In chapter four of, “The Storytelling Animal,” Jonathan Gottschall argues that indeed dreams do have a true function. However, he also claims that “a function for dreams or pretend play or fiction doesn’t mean that we’ve identified the function.” (Page 86). I agree with Gottshchall pertaining to his outlook on dreams having a purpose. Through his varied research, Gottschall concludes that dreams are simply a scape goat that humans use to play out real life scenarios that either challenge or instill fear in their reality. Although Gottschall believes dreams serve a purpose, he also understands how the diverse multitude of perspectives makes it nearly impossible
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We commit atrocities; we suffer tragedies, sometimes we orgasm; sometimes we fly; sometimes we die,” (Page 69). These are emotions and actions we as humans partake in during dream. At times, we experience all of those emotions in dream, depending how drastic they are. The way we portray and accept these dreams varies from person to person. This is made blatantly clear by the extrinsic proofs Gottschall uses to describe the ideas of different scholars throughout history. J. Allan Hobson stated that dreams are just dreams claiming, “the dream is a dream, is the dream, is the dream!” and there is nothing else to it (Page 72). In contrast, Sigmund Freud believes that dreams are obviously basic while others are symbolic. A theory known as Random activation theory, or RAT, is based on the idea that the brain has serious work to do at night, especially during REM sleep. It is here that the brain accumulates information and projects that information as dreams. These separate ideas enhance Gottschall’s theory that one universal explanation does not exist. This can be seen throughout the various cultures around the world where each believe dreams vary in meaning or source. For example, some cultures believe that a dream is a foreshadowing event that is going to occur. Others believe there is a connotative meaning behind dreams or that it comes from a God or spiritual being. Even though they all …show more content…
“Projected over seventy-year life span, the average person would suffer about 60,000 threatening REM dreams, featuring almost 120,000 distinct threats,” (Page 82). Gottschall claims that the most common dream type is being attacked or chased. This adds to the theory that our dreams portray situations that would endanger our lives. I believe this occurs in our brains during sleep because we as humans have a yearning to experience certain situations. However, we simultaneously do not want to completely expose ourselves to the vulnerability that is associated with those same situations. As Gottschall stated in the previous chapters of the “Story Telling Animal,” humans have an urge to experience sex and violence, therefor we tend to have sexual dreams as well as violent ones throughout our lives. Our dreams act as scape goats and it is up to each individual on how we perceive them. Over time, evolution has caused for the addition and removal of certain characteristics of the human body. The primary reason for evolution is for each new generation to be passed with better characteristics to survive. This is what Gottschall argues in the first couple of chapters in his book about fiction and story, why evolution didn’t get rid of that natural ability to constantly tell stories? If it didn’t then there must be
We commit atrocities; we suffer tragedies, sometimes we orgasm; sometimes we fly; sometimes we die,” (Page 69). These are emotions and actions we as humans partake in during dream. At times, we experience all of those emotions in dream, depending how drastic they are. The way we portray and accept these dreams varies from person to person. This is made blatantly clear by the extrinsic proofs Gottschall uses to describe the ideas of different scholars throughout history. J. Allan Hobson stated that dreams are just dreams claiming, “the dream is a dream, is the dream, is the dream!” and there is nothing else to it (Page 72). In contrast, Sigmund Freud believes that dreams are obviously basic while others are symbolic. A theory known as Random activation theory, or RAT, is based on the idea that the brain has serious work to do at night, especially during REM sleep. It is here that the brain accumulates information and projects that information as dreams. These separate ideas enhance Gottschall’s theory that one universal explanation does not exist. This can be seen throughout the various cultures around the world where each believe dreams vary in meaning or source. For example, some cultures believe that a dream is a foreshadowing event that is going to occur. Others believe there is a connotative meaning behind dreams or that it comes from a God or spiritual being. Even though they all …show more content…
“Projected over seventy-year life span, the average person would suffer about 60,000 threatening REM dreams, featuring almost 120,000 distinct threats,” (Page 82). Gottschall claims that the most common dream type is being attacked or chased. This adds to the theory that our dreams portray situations that would endanger our lives. I believe this occurs in our brains during sleep because we as humans have a yearning to experience certain situations. However, we simultaneously do not want to completely expose ourselves to the vulnerability that is associated with those same situations. As Gottschall stated in the previous chapters of the “Story Telling Animal,” humans have an urge to experience sex and violence, therefor we tend to have sexual dreams as well as violent ones throughout our lives. Our dreams act as scape goats and it is up to each individual on how we perceive them. Over time, evolution has caused for the addition and removal of certain characteristics of the human body. The primary reason for evolution is for each new generation to be passed with better characteristics to survive. This is what Gottschall argues in the first couple of chapters in his book about fiction and story, why evolution didn’t get rid of that natural ability to constantly tell stories? If it didn’t then there must be