Okay, so everyone knows, I'm not spoiling for an argument, but since this IS the off-topic section, and this IS (roughly) philosophy... what the heck.
Originally posted by Amethyst Star
Personally, while mankind may be classified as a mammal according to scientific definitions, I can not classify us as animals. Animals may have a small sense of right and wrong, but not to the extent as humans do.
Right and wrong are, very likely, NOT natural properties of human beings, and are instead, a product of culture, upbringing, etc. ALSO, Amethyst Star, this point you make seems founded in the preconception that there IS such a thing as objective right and wrong. As somewhat of a moral subjectivist, I would disagree with that proposition.
Animals may be social, but we thrive on our interactions with ohter people to some degree or another.[/b]
So do animals. My cat Taz, for example, gets lonely whenever I'm away at uni. When I come home, even if his bowl is full, he comes up and wants a cuddle and a big fuss made of him. Now, like as not, that IS thriving on social interaction with other (people/creatures)
Human interaction may be more advanced, complex, and "deeper", SURE. But in essence, it's the exact same desire for social interaction, the exact same thriving, as can be found in SOME animals (more specifically mammals). In this respect, I think that the fact that the human brain is more advanced than that of other mammals, has led humans to believe that somehow they are intrinsically "above" other animals, with respect to emotion, social interaction... I believe this to be wrong, and founded in a deep-founded desire to somehow differentiate ourselves from animals.
Animals participate in physical combat, but only for dominance and for food. [/b]
So? What reasons do HUMANS participate in physical conflict? Not food, so much. But dominance? Definately. I would say that dominance, whether financial, social, culktural, etc, is the ONLY real cause of human conflict. If this is true, then we are no different for animals, except our concept of "dominance" may be more advanced and multi-fasceted; that is to say, we are animals, albeit complex ones.
As humans, we are also born with something that animals do not understand: honor. It is a difficult word to explain, but rather it's meaning is learned through our personal experiences. As far as combat goes, it is founded upon honor, defending and displaying it.[/b]
I wholly disagree on this point. Humans are most definately NOT born with "honor", nor do I feel that honor (like morality) is something objective and independant of human culture. Honor is a result of social and cultural conditioning of humans. And Combat is not founded upon honor. Even if it WERE, honor can be seen to be just another facet of the idea of "dominance" you brought up earlier, a sort of cultural/egotistic/'moral' dominance.
As far as video games are concerned, while it may be a way to relieve agression, it also has its negative side. First off, there is no true interaction between people. We as humans need it to survive, to live contentedly, and while one may develop a friendship with someone online, it can't replace a face-to-face relationship. This next generation - and even our own - is also losing the ability to communicate with real people. It's easier and (sometimes) safer to speak to someone you can't see, but you can't replace a face with a monitor. Also, often the stress involved in playing these games can lead to accelerated agression in people who don't already know how to handle it. I know some of you have seen the video of the "most impatient kid in the world." Remember what he did with the keyboard?[/b]
TOTALLY agree with you here. Video games, especially the violent crimes, do not help relieve aggression, rather, they only help to promote it. A definate negative force...
Though, on the other hand, some video games can be beneficial in some respects... personally, I like to play historical strategy games... though don't have any time during semester. Games that involve thinking, I like... but first-person shooters, guns blazing, wading through screen after screen of carnage? no thanks...
I've been involved with Judo for a short time, about 7 months or so. One of it's principles is consideration for the welfare of your opponent and mutual benefit. I love it because while it may be used to prove your strength, you are not trying to actually injure your opponent even if it is within your power to do so.[/b]
Personally, I'd LOVE to get into judo, or another martial art. Unfortunately, however, I just don't have the time, between university, reading, writingshort stories, and my social life... I do go to the gym, which is great for a bit of stress relief and disposing of accumulated agression (not that I have much... I'm a fairly placid guy). But yeah... would love to do martial arts, but don't have the time. Perhaps when I graduate. I did fence for a fair bit, though, and have retained some of my skills. That was okay, but perhaps not as physical and "hands-on" as I'd have liked.
But yeah... I love a good-natured argument/discussion... so that's my side, anyway...
|
|
Bookmarks