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Paul, thank you for the metaphor. We are born explorers. To some extent we are more complex versions of Langston’s ants. We come with a set of instructions that aren’t too complicated. They include things like: eat, drink, stay warm, mate (or at least find something warm to cuddle with). We follow these sets of instructions and they create patterns.  Like Langston’s ant we run in to obstacles that re-shape the way our patterns look.  You can’t just grab the food of someone else’s plate (most of the time) and they tend to get REALLY touchy if you try to mate with their mate. So we adapt our behaviors.

But where it gets really interesting is how our feedback loop allows for real novelty and creativity. In fact it seems that the feedback loop (and evolution) rewards novelty. The first guy to figure out how to make fire sure was popular. Ditto the guy who figured out how to play guitar with his teeth.

This makes you popular

At least the first time....

Maybe not so much later on