And I think it will only get worse as the economic outlook gets worse. Empathy will decrease as people turn more instinctual and begin the survival of the fittest mentality (right or wrong)...
I intend to fight that with every fiber of my being. Who's with me?
There are many reasons that 'survival of the fittest' is entirely the wrong attitude to have at the best of times and especially at the worst of times. Let's enumerate them:
--Most everyone thinks themselves capable of survival. Few really are, at least in the kind of self-imposed isolation that has grown to be the norm over the past couple of decades. So folks will try to shut the world out and all they'll wind up is shut out. What's needed is a musketeer mentality, an "all for one and one for all" spirit that is largely lacking in today's society.
--Who gets to define "fittest", anyway? Lately, "fittest" has served as a synonym for "wealthiest"...which begs the question, what is wealth? Each person has something of value to give to a community. I may not be able to work with my hands very well, but I can use those hands to create music. It may be intangible, but I submit it's valuable.
--We are only as strong as our weakest link. It's easy, if you lack a conscience, to simply throw that weakest link on the discard pile...surely easier than spending the time to figure out his strengths and put them to use. But nobody ever said life was easy.
I'd quibble at Rocket's characterization of a "survival of the fittest" model as "instinctual." If that were the case, we wouldn't read stories about people risking their lives for complete strangers, and yet such stories are quite common. Altruism is seemingly a core human value. If it's not innate (and there's still some argument about that), you find it in pretty much every religious or philosophical tradition going--ancient or modern. It's only comparatively recently that selfishness has surpassed altruism in some social circles. I can't help but think of Michael Douglas in Wall Street saying "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good."
No it ain't. And no neo-Reaganist is going to convince me otherwise.
4 comments:
What's needed is a musketeer mentality, an "all for one and one for all" spirit that is largely lacking in today's society. "
-- The tough question of course is how do we get people to realize the value in that notion.
Who gets to define "fittest", anyway?
--- This is a very good question because the fittest used to = who could procreate the most in an animal kingdom sense. But for a while it hass been about resources, money included as a resource. It's about health and happiness and the ability to create addtl healthy and happy offspring I guess. Until we merge with machine, that is the goal.
I'd quibble at Rocket's characterization of a "survival of the fittest" model as "instinctual." If that were the case, we wouldn't read stories about people risking their lives for complete strangers, and yet such stories are quite common.
-- This is one of the best arguments but there is a reason why we still continue to help complete strangers; it is still inbred in us via "memes" ; or values, ideas passsed on thorugh generations. We are still a very young animal and we have lived in small groups far longer than we have lived in large groups and helping others, even risking your life to help others has great possible benefit to all. The meme creates other benefits as societies reign praise down one "hero's". The Selfish Gene exists but it is also accompanied by societies memes, norms, values etc...
"Greed, for lack of a better word, is good."
-- Great movie. Healthy, conscientious, thoughtful greed is good but that may not exist ;o)
P.S. Did you get my 3 column layout email? Just making sure.
I know this is off-topic, but why do we get to see Mrs. B's eyes in your profile pic, but not your own?
Rocket, yeah, I got it--just haven't used it yet. Lazy, don't you know.
Thomas--if you could see my eyes, that would mean I couldn't see a goddamn thing. My glasses come on the minute I get out of the shower every morning and don't come off until half an hour after I get into bed...
Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for the info.
Post a Comment