For the past couple of weeks, Carlos, owner of CALM SCRAMBLE had a heated discussion regarding this quote:”The only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation. — Bertrand Russell”. I totally disagree with this statement.
I found this statement is extreme limited. I believe at our current level, cooperation can only be achieved when there’s personal gain on both parties. It can get things done, true, but it doesn’t possess a mankind redemption trait. So I believe this statement is false. I actually don’t believe mankind is redeemable at our current stage because we are not smart enough. We have the need to look at thing comprehensively where facts are presented from multiple views. It’s a good method, but it also lead to endless loop. For example, A man killed a killer while the killer is not killing, is this man a killer or a hero? Usually the judgement for this man will be between guilty and heroism at the wrong time. The man will get punishment, but it will not be very harsh.
Compromising, that is the redeeming fact in today, at least it is trying to because not everybody willing to compromise. And even if we, the human being, evolved to the level where cooperation is possible without the personal gain part, it is still not sufficient enough to be a mankind redeeming factor. At that level, people probably already lose the need of material and personal interests. Mankind probably already redeemed at the time, better yet, they probably lost the need to identify themselves as mankind and there is really no point in redeeming it.
So here it is, the reason why I disagree with the statement.
Like the title of this post says, it’s a long overdue post. I haven’t post anything for at least a week. I missed last week’s Naruto but I still paid attention to the materials that I wanted to write. Hence, this paragraph below. Caution! If you are a Christian, what I have to say might offend you.
I was reading random News when I read this. A man in Russia claims to be the son of god. He wasn’t born by Mary, at least that’s what I understood. Anyway, he is a retired police officer who happens to look like the depicted Jesus’ image when he has long hair and beard. So he can claim he is the son of god and he has followers. That got me to think, was Jesus got his followers through the same kind of methods? Then his followers mystified him and his life to create this religion? I am not saying it is, I am just speculating. Nothing more. And here he is.
7 September, 11:56 pm
Of course I have to comment to this one, the very overdue post! You announced this on my Facebook wall many days ago! At this point I believe the difference is in the definition for collaboration. For me, it doesn’t go beyond what’s in the interest of the parties involved. For that we have the word altruism. And I certainly don’t believe this last one will redeem mankind.
The fact that mankind may seem unable to find commonalities and work together to achieve them, doesn’t mean that wouldn’t redeem it. It just means that you believe we already reached the point of no return. However, if we have not, and this is only an if, there’s no way we will achieve it without collaboration. Only if people start thinking of fulfilling our goals, instead of my goals, we will be able to share the world and have a live in peaceful coexistence. If we do it and we are able to change what seems our nature, then I will consider us redeemed.
17 September, 4:36 pm
No, I disagree. working together can overcome problem, but it can not fix the flaw in human nature. Eliminate material needs and desire for personal property can make it easier to endure, but then you ran into the identity and human rights issue. To sum it up, humanity is contradictory and worthless thus no need to save it. If, unfortunately we destroy ourselves because of this human trait, who are we to judge whether or not it’s a good or bad. Life as we know it might be gone, but you never know what else is in store everything else.
20 September, 1:28 am
Eliminating material needs isn’t realistic, because they are an extension of our biological needs. We need water, food, clothing, shelter. Now, humans are indeed contradictory. We are capable of both creating, and destroying. However, the mere existence of that ability to create art, music, science, love, and many other instances of beauty, is evidence of the worthiness of the human race. If anything is wrong, even if we get to a point where there is none to care or judge, it is to quit the drive to survive and to preserve this ability to create beauty. It is wrong to stop believing that we can correct our mistakes and try to make this a better world for all creatures. As long as someone cares, there is hope for mankind.