Brandybear, I loved your philosophical question!

I really believe that this depends upon the 'intelligence level' of the person... that is to say, the intelligent people live to 'learn, and evolve' whereas the less intelligent people 'only repeat everything that they have been taught, without question... and the less intelligent people care not about 'Truth,' but only 'Thinking that they are right!' So to sum it up, YES, (Intelligent people are always 'Evolving!' The sad thing is, my guess is that only about 35 people in 100 are 'intelligent enough to evolve!' Another thing that I have learned is that it is 'very difficult' to tell who is and who is not 'intelligent' just by looking at them... you really need to ask them a 'lot' of questions! Some will be just smart enough to 'give you the answers that they think that you want to hear... especially if it is a guy wanting to impress a girl! Sometimes a girl might 'play that same 'dishonest answer' game to. I finally learned to judge people by 'what they do, and not rely very much on their 'Honesty!'

As for changing the inside as well as the person they are. I say YES. I have done it and made lots of changes to my life. Positive ones.

As for asking someone to change. I say it depends on the situation. When someone makes a change make sure it's for them and not for you or else they really won't change at all. But if someone is drinking or using drugs, I think it shows you care by asking them to stop but the same rule would apply that they have to be doing it for themselves. Hope his may shed some light for ya. *hugs*