Posts: 480
Threads: 94
Joined: August 24, 2016
Reputation:
11
Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:01 pm
I have been wondering if the progress of society (excluding science), is just the natural course of development?
What I mean is that no group of politicians, will, or ideology will make society progress, but the natural instinct of humans to avoid pain. In history, the most important changes have been because of revolutions and wars. Not because a group of politicians sat down and made the world a better place.
It seems to me politics are only useful to do evil things and take advantage of the weak. Very few times they do something actually good.
The reason I exclude science is because I believe that, contrary to society, this requires genuine personal effort.
Posts: 69247
Threads: 3759
Joined: August 2, 2009
Reputation:
259
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:10 pm
Quote:is just the natural course of development?
When you look at the globe, such "development" seems quite spotty.
Posts: 28298
Threads: 522
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
90
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:15 pm
Thank god for Sargent Louis Pasteur. Take that you fuckin microbes, rat-a-tat-tat-tat!
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 480
Threads: 94
Joined: August 24, 2016
Reputation:
11
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:16 pm
Societies controlled by force and fear always fall. It is just matter of time until the whole theocratic governments of the middle east fall. But this always happens not because of a conscious effort by the politicans, but by the tired people united by one idea: a better lifestyle. Its always the same pattern.
Posts: 67189
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
162
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:23 pm
(June 23, 2017 at 1:01 pm)Macoleco Wrote: I have been wondering if the progress of society (excluding science), is just the natural course of development? In some sense it must be. We've been here awhile, always adapting to our current situation. The progress of society could be viewed through the lens of our constant search for a better means of survival, and for a better quality of life in the act of surviving.
Quote:What I mean is that no group of politicians, will, or ideology will make society progress, but the natural instinct of humans to avoid pain. In history, the most important changes have been because of revolutions and wars. Not because a group of politicians sat down and made the world a better place.
Pain avoidance (and pain aversion) is certainly one of our motivators - but I'd caution against reducing every motivation to that singular purpose, or every exampe pof progress as having happened due to that motive. Accute suffering definitely makes us jump up and take notice, except when it doesn't, and we become listless and catatonic in the face of abject despair...or revert to a state of overt savagery; chasing down our neighbors and brutalizing them in what were once civilized streets.
Quote:It seems to me politics are only useful to do evil things and take advantage of the weak. Very few times they do something actually good.
I think that politic is a tool, and a tool is morally indeterminate. That we use the tool for evil more often than good (assuming we do) probably says more about our relative opportunity for evil as compared to our opportunity for good. Wide is the path that leads to damnation, and all that jazz.
Quote:The reason I exclude science is because I believe that, contrary to society, this requires genuine personal effort.
It probably requires genuine effort to properly dick someone over through politics as well. If they're all doing it on accident..we're fucked. 
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
Posts: 69247
Threads: 3759
Joined: August 2, 2009
Reputation:
259
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:45 pm
Quote: It is just matter of time until the whole theocratic governments of the middle east fall.
Oh, I thought you were talking about the US because we are on our way out, too.
Posts: 18544
Threads: 145
Joined: March 18, 2015
Reputation:
100
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 1:53 pm
(June 23, 2017 at 1:23 pm)Khemikal Wrote: Pain avoidance (and pain aversion) is certainly one of our motivators - but I'd caution against reducing every motivation to that singular purpose, or every exampe pof progress as having happened due to that motive. Accute suffering definitely makes us jump up and take notice, except when it doesn't, and we become listless and catatonic in the face of abject despair...or revert to a state of overt savagery; chasing down our neighbors and brutalizing them in what were once civilized streets. That's probably because violence mainly covers the majority of newscasts these days, so we are in effect, becoming immune and the shock value is wearing thin.
Disclaimer: I am only responsible for what I say, not what you choose to understand.
(November 14, 2018 at 8:57 pm)The Valkyrie Wrote: Have a good day at work. If we ever meet in a professional setting, let me answer your question now. Yes, I DO want fries with that.
Posts: 67189
Threads: 140
Joined: June 28, 2011
Reputation:
162
RE: Regarding the progress of society
June 23, 2017 at 4:32 pm
(This post was last modified: June 23, 2017 at 4:33 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
I wouldn't know. My news feed is happy funtimes all the time. I'd be a miserable fuck if I watched the murder porn people call news.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
|
