Divide et Impera

The Universe contains elements, which at some point, decided through the laws of this Universe, to create simple life. Life found life appealing, and decided to reproduce. Through constant reproduction, advancements were made. At one time physical prowess was the ultimate guide in determining the hierarchy of the food chain, until a rather odd event occurred: a species was born that was much more aware of its surroundings then its competition. This species ability to understand and manipulate its surroundings more then made up for its lack of physical prowess, and this species has grown to a level of absolute dominance at the top of the food chain.

It seems that awareness is a rather dominant trait among complex life forms, in this struggle for survival.

A crucial moment is at hand though, while some people enjoy their daily dose of the 9 to 5, followed by a bit of "The Jerry Springer Show", others sit ready and willing -- to turn the key, and push the button that would end our portion, of this game.

Is this simply the cultural version, of the physically dominated food chain?

Is our species hanging in the balance of a Darwinian version of "survival of the fittest ideology"?

Will science destroy religion? Will Christianity outlast Islam? Will Capitalism defeat Socialism? Does the tool now define the man?!

Our survival is bound firmly to awareness and understanding; I leave it in your capable hands to decide what that means.

In a world of murderous religions, and blind science, I ask you: does it really matter?

~Ism Schism~

[ June 23, 2002: Message edited by: 1Time ]</p>

Ierrellus

1Time,

The way I see it, humans are summarily engaged in devolution. We are the only animal that destroys its own nest. Insects can survive a nuclear holocaust; we can't. So, unless humans wise up, the insects will be the next "crown of creation".

It only matters to those who wish to see humans survive.

Ierrellus

Pax

madmax2976

Huh? Elements don't "decide" anything. They do what they do. Laws don't decide anything - they describe what the elements do.

<strong> Life is not an entity unto itself - it didn't "decide" anything.

<strong> This is the first clear point you've made.

<strong> Okay.

<strong> Possibly. Its also possible we'll continue thriving on.

<strong> There's no reason to assume this isn't so, but I don't know what point your tring to make by it.

<strong> Unlikely. There are a great many religions, some not all that incompatible with science.

<strong> Good questions. I haven't the faintest idea. Do you?

<strong> Its means the smartest species tends to have the highest likelihood of surival. Sounds reasonable to me.

<strong> Does what really matter to whom?

Divide et Impera

Ierrellus:

It only matters to those who wish to see humans survive.

Agreed in a sense, that is -- if, I concede that they hold the "Trump Card". Do they?

snatchbalance

1time

These both appear to be examples of just how unaware people really are. IMO, people in general prefer to live out thier delusions, not thier lives. Biology, sociology and psychology will always trump logic and reason.

I guess that's part of the reason why religion won't go away.

sb

AtlanticCitySlave

No, but size does.

Divide et Impera

To madmax:

I see you have problems with "personification". Deal with them. I intended it to be obscure -- it is not my job to spell out for you exactly where I am coming from -- it is my intention to make you think. If one can not see the value in the obscurity of my post, they were not intended to understand it. Or at least -- that's how I see it.

My single concession:

Matter does not "decide", in fact, it is quite true that, in fact, matter "does what it does": and it did it to you. Do you matter?

[ June 22, 2002: Message edited by: 1Time ]</p>

Laurentius

There was a faith-healer of Deal
Who said, "Although pain isn't real,
If I sit on a pin,
And it punctures my skin,
I dislike what I fancy I feel."

AVE

madmax2976

Why thank you. I'll chalk it up to the inane crap I perceive it to be.

<strong> If you want to dicuss something rationally it is your "job". If you want to babble, I suppose its not. But I fail to see why you'd want post here if the latter is the case.

<strong> "Value in obscurity"? If obscurity is all you have to offer, I guess I'll just leave you to it.

<strong> Since you've implicitly admitted that your statments are little more than personal diatribe and not germane to philsophical discourse, I don't expect any answer I would have to the question would matter to you. However, just for the record, I do indeed matter - to other people, such as my family. Do I matter to anyone from Africa or any alien life living in the Andromeda galaxy? Probably not. And?

Next time you want post in a philosophy forum, you might want to think about actually engaging in philosophical discussion.

Divide et Impera

To madmax:

Again we seem to have problems communicating. If this does not clear up any confusion, nothing will. The first thing I think you missed was the symbol in the header of the thread. Secondly you seemed to believe my post was some sort of definition of my philosophical position, instead of a question with a little set up before it. As to my intentional obscurity, I wanted to see where the people out there stood in regards to this difficult question without my viewpoint possibly skewing the results of those who answered one way or another. Again, if you do not understand now, you wont later.

In the following post, I will more clearly define what my position is, perhaps this will bring back some meaningful discussion in this thread.