Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Red Expendable · 07-11-2002, 12:48 AM

I'm not sure if this post belongs in this section. But here goes:

I wanted to know what people think the one major flaw of humanity is? what I mean is -- What do you think is the one thing inherent (maybe this could also be something that is not inherent but something that is taught...whatever you guys think!) -- in human beings that causes unhappiness amongst the human population?

I think the worst flaw a human being has in them is the abilty of SELF-DECEPTION.
It seems to me this causes so much destruction and unhappiness on the planet.

What's your opinion?

RedEx

EDITED FOR SPELLING, and I probably still spelled it wrong!

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Red Expendable ]</p>

Paddy · 07-11-2002, 02:53 AM

G'day Redex,

Why self-deception?

Although I haven't given much consideration as to what is mankind's greatest flaw, I am interested as to why you believe self-deception to be the primary flaw? Wouldn't mankinds pernicious tendency to deceive others be a greater flaw?

Paddy.

Friar Bellows · 07-11-2002, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Red Expendable:
<strong>I wanted to know what people think the one major flaw of humanity is?</strong>

Our overwhelming urge to conform.

Jamie_L · 07-11-2002, 04:25 AM

Although I think there's probably a greater flaw, the one thing that has always irked me is humankind's short-sightedness. While individuals may have vision, when large groups of us are making decisions, we're lucky if we can think beyond next week.

Jamie

Perchance · 07-11-2002, 06:13 AM

Stupidity. By this I don't mean ignorance; that can be changed by education or experience. I also don't mean low intelligence caused by something like Down's syndrome.

No, I'm talking about the apparent human ability to be appraised of something, know it is true, and still bury their heads in the sand.

Of course, I've seen this applied to religion, but I've also known students of mine who knew, for example, that they would fail the class if they didn't revise their papers by the end of the semester. They don't do it, even when all they have to do is make sure they have sources cited properly so they're not claiming others' work as their own, even when I remind them of it in class and send reminding e-mails. And so they fail the class, and then a wail goes up: "Why did that happen?"

When someone knows the end result or consequence of clinging to outdated knowledge or performing an action that will hurt him or her and does it anyway... I think this impedes progress more than anything else. It encourages people to unhook themselves from responsiblity for their own actions. It insures that we're still fighting battles over things like evolution that should have been settled long ago. And it insures that people will suffer harm and pain that they could have avoided.

It's also really damn annoying.

-Perchance.

Shadowy Man · 07-11-2002, 06:27 AM

Hmm... maybe either greed or arrogance.

Mackjoy · 07-11-2002, 07:25 AM

My vote is for pride and ego, or the mis-placement of pride, it effects peoples decissions in so many ways it's hard to even identify them all.

Mack

Vesica · 07-11-2002, 10:55 AM

Our over inflated sense of self.

We know we experience the world with ourselves as the center, in that the only thing we really 'know' is our own perception of reality. We know some of the ways in which our brains are wired to take short cuts, generalize and misinterpret. We have researched, analyzed and categorized human flaws and shortcomings, both in general and in specific individuals.....

Yet none of this seems to change much of anything...In so many ways the human experience is as it always has been! *sigh*

MadMordigan · 07-11-2002, 11:28 AM

Stupidity

Whether its because they are retarded, or ignorant, or just plain old dumb, stupidity in all its forms is functionally equivalent, and any differentiation is superfluous. People do things that are incorrect, can be shown to be incorrect, yet they do not recongnize them as such. The ability of people to be mind numbingly dense, to come to poor conclusions or to miss relevant facts should never be underestimated. Its the reason we have labels saying 'Do not hold blade while in operation' on power tools and 'Contents HOT!' on coffee cups. Its why we have help desks in companies that do nothing but tell people their printer is out of ink.

A close second would be cowardice.

echidna · 07-11-2002, 04:48 PM

Self-deception
Conformity
Deception
Stupidity
Greed
Arrogance
Our over inflated sense of self
Cowardice

Actually I can�t easily think of a single flaw.

Even of the 7 Deadly Sins, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Anger, I am unable to be absolutist in condemning any of them.

Each of the characteristics mentioned so far is only a flaw when taken in a defined context. Each of them IMO has a flipside which in another context / interpretation can make the same trait useful, or at least non-harmful. Possibly this is why we still have them. Only wisdom (not intelligence BTW) gives us the ability to know when and how we apply these characteristics.

I think the one which comes closest for me as being absolutely wrong, is our ability to be cruel and to derive pleasure from cruelty inflicted on others.

07-11-2002, 12:48 AM	#1
Red Expendable Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 791	One major flaw with humanity...a poll I'm not sure if this post belongs in this section. But here goes: I wanted to know what people think the one major flaw of humanity is? what I mean is -- What do you think is the one thing inherent (maybe this could also be something that is not inherent but something that is taught...whatever you guys think!) -- in human beings that causes unhappiness amongst the human population? I think the worst flaw a human being has in them is the abilty of SELF-DECEPTION. It seems to me this causes so much destruction and unhappiness on the planet. What's your opinion? RedEx EDITED FOR SPELLING, and I probably still spelled it wrong! [ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Red Expendable ]</p>

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07-11-2002, 02:53 AM	#2
Paddy Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 47	G'day Redex, Why self-deception? Although I haven't given much consideration as to what is mankind's greatest flaw, I am interested as to why you believe self-deception to be the primary flaw? Wouldn't mankinds pernicious tendency to deceive others be a greater flaw? Paddy.

07-11-2002, 04:25 AM	#4
Jamie_L Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,565	Although I think there's probably a greater flaw, the one thing that has always irked me is humankind's short-sightedness. While individuals may have vision, when large groups of us are making decisions, we're lucky if we can think beyond next week. Jamie

07-11-2002, 06:13 AM	#5
Perchance Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,059	Stupidity. By this I don't mean ignorance; that can be changed by education or experience. I also don't mean low intelligence caused by something like Down's syndrome. No, I'm talking about the apparent human ability to be appraised of something, know it is true, and still bury their heads in the sand. Of course, I've seen this applied to religion, but I've also known students of mine who knew, for example, that they would fail the class if they didn't revise their papers by the end of the semester. They don't do it, even when all they have to do is make sure they have sources cited properly so they're not claiming others' work as their own, even when I remind them of it in class and send reminding e-mails. And so they fail the class, and then a wail goes up: "Why did that happen?" When someone knows the end result or consequence of clinging to outdated knowledge or performing an action that will hurt him or her and does it anyway... I think this impedes progress more than anything else. It encourages people to unhook themselves from responsiblity for their own actions. It insures that we're still fighting battles over things like evolution that should have been settled long ago. And it insures that people will suffer harm and pain that they could have avoided. It's also really damn annoying. -Perchance.

07-11-2002, 06:27 AM	#6
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Hmm... maybe either greed or arrogance.

07-11-2002, 07:25 AM	#7
Mackjoy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: NC.USA Posts: 14	My vote is for pride and ego, or the mis-placement of pride, it effects peoples decissions in so many ways it's hard to even identify them all. Mack

07-11-2002, 10:55 AM	#8
Vesica Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sunny FLA USA Posts: 212	Our over inflated sense of self. We know we experience the world with ourselves as the center, in that the only thing we really 'know' is our own perception of reality. We know some of the ways in which our brains are wired to take short cuts, generalize and misinterpret. We have researched, analyzed and categorized human flaws and shortcomings, both in general and in specific individuals..... Yet none of this seems to change much of anything...In so many ways the human experience is as it always has been! sigh

07-11-2002, 11:28 AM	#9
MadMordigan Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2,704	Stupidity Whether its because they are retarded, or ignorant, or just plain old dumb, stupidity in all its forms is functionally equivalent, and any differentiation is superfluous. People do things that are incorrect, can be shown to be incorrect, yet they do not recongnize them as such. The ability of people to be mind numbingly dense, to come to poor conclusions or to miss relevant facts should never be underestimated. Its the reason we have labels saying 'Do not hold blade while in operation' on power tools and 'Contents HOT!' on coffee cups. Its why we have help desks in companies that do nothing but tell people their printer is out of ink. A close second would be cowardice.

07-11-2002, 04:48 PM	#10
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	Self-deception Conformity Deception Stupidity Greed Arrogance Our over inflated sense of self Cowardice Actually I can�t easily think of a single flaw. Even of the 7 Deadly Sins, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Anger, I am unable to be absolutist in condemning any of them. Each of the characteristics mentioned so far is only a flaw when taken in a defined context. Each of them IMO has a flipside which in another context / interpretation can make the same trait useful, or at least non-harmful. Possibly this is why we still have them. Only wisdom (not intelligence BTW) gives us the ability to know when and how we apply these characteristics. I think the one which comes closest for me as being absolutely wrong, is our ability to be cruel and to derive pleasure from cruelty inflicted on others.

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