The Big Daddy C-Master
Big Daddy 
Living life to the fullest, and it feels great.
I'm still here... for now...
Posts: 26,387
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Post by The Big Daddy C-Master on Jun 18, 2008 14:35:50 GMT -5
It's hard for me to say too. But I think it's interesting to try and look at it this way. There are many animals that share mutual, commensalistic (sp), and parasitic relationships. In the case of comensalism, alligators allow a certain species of bird to come and pick their teeth (seems like a mutual relationship I know, but I remember my old textbook classifying it under commensalism), apparently the gators could care less either way. When it's not a problem at all for us to give someone food, we do it. But that's because it's the right thing to do. I believe we as humans are actually literally capable of being happy for one another, but that and the satisfaction of doing the right thing are also necessary prereqs for us to do good things for one another. In other words, we are essentially selfish. However there is nothing selfish about our capacity to be happy for one another as there is nothing selfish about feeling good for doing the right thing, so that still accounts for the idea that man is still good, at least to an extent... Like I said before we are naturally selfish, because we are meant to be that way, I know you mean in a more pejorative term, but look at an infant. There's nothing more selfish, and all it's trying to do is have it's way. It doesn't know about the world yet or anything, it's just naturally that way. We are naturally made to take care of our needs first. As we grow older certain principles are instilled upon us. I think we have the capacity for both obviously, and that was my point. It's often easier to be selfish on a lower level. That old textbook is stupid if it said that. That is mutualism. Commensialism is more like a moth camouflaging with a tree, benefits nothing but the moth and not the tree in any way at all, nor does it hurt it. Getting your teeth cleaned is still a benefit. |
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Post by Dja Majista on Jun 21, 2008 22:26:38 GMT -5
It's hard for me to say too. But I think it's interesting to try and look at it this way. There are many animals that share mutual, commensalistic (sp), and parasitic relationships. In the case of comensalism, alligators allow a certain species of bird to come and pick their teeth (seems like a mutual relationship I know, but I remember my old textbook classifying it under commensalism), apparently the gators could care less either way. When it's not a problem at all for us to give someone food, we do it. But that's because it's the right thing to do. I believe we as humans are actually literally capable of being happy for one another, but that and the satisfaction of doing the right thing are also necessary prereqs for us to do good things for one another. In other words, we are essentially selfish. However there is nothing selfish about our capacity to be happy for one another as there is nothing selfish about feeling good for doing the right thing, so that still accounts for the idea that man is still good, at least to an extent... Like I said before we are naturally selfish, because we are meant to be that way, I know you mean in a more pejorative term, but look at an infant. There's nothing more selfish, and all it's trying to do is have it's way. It doesn't know about the world yet or anything, it's just naturally that way. We are naturally made to take care of our needs first. As we grow older certain principles are instilled upon us. I think we have the capacity for both obviously, and that was my point. It's often easier to be selfish on a lower level. I haven't suggested that being geared toward the needs of oneself is wrong per se. It's our incapacity for genuine selflessness that leads me to believe that we are inherently evil. Granted, that's a big maybe, but a valid maybe nonetheless. Ok sure, moth and a tree. That's much better. |
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The Big Daddy C-Master
Big Daddy
Living life to the fullest, and it feels great.
I'm still here... for now...
Posts: 26,387
|
Post by The Big Daddy C-Master on Jun 23, 2008 23:59:20 GMT -5
Like I said before we are naturally selfish, because we are meant to be that way, I know you mean in a more pejorative term, but look at an infant. There's nothing more selfish, and all it's trying to do is have it's way. It doesn't know about the world yet or anything, it's just naturally that way. We are naturally made to take care of our needs first. As we grow older certain principles are instilled upon us. I think we have the capacity for both obviously, and that was my point. It's often easier to be selfish on a lower level. I haven't suggested that being geared toward the needs of oneself is wrong per se. It's our incapacity for genuine selflessness that leads me to believe that we are inherently evil. Granted, that's a big maybe, but a valid maybe nonetheless. Ok sure, moth and a tree. That's much better. Nothing is wrong with taking care of oneself, but it the overindulgence in it, like all things, leads to problems. |
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Post by warmunger on Jun 25, 2008 12:39:59 GMT -5
To me, I think man is born with out good or evil, doing only what it needs to survive. Is an act truly evil if you don't think it's evil?
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The Big Daddy C-Master
Big Daddy
Living life to the fullest, and it feels great.
I'm still here... for now...
Posts: 26,387
|
Post by The Big Daddy C-Master on Jun 26, 2008 7:07:10 GMT -5
To me, I think man is born with out good or evil, doing only what it needs to survive. Is an act truly evil if you don't think it's evil? We live based on our community to, if we were raised to think "evil" acts were neutral or good, we wouldn't think they were evil. Good point my handsome friend.  |
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