Competition vs. Cooperation
11/3/09 06:41![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticsI wanted to bring politics down to its fundamental level to explain why I believe in what I do. While I want to succeed in life personally, what's far more important to me is the survival of the species. One reason why I can't buy into certain religious beliefs is I love humanity. We may be flawed, but I don't think it makes us wretched sinners who need the guidance of an arguably more enlightened wretched sinner.
We do some terrible things throughout the world but I think its our competitive nature that is at the fundamental heart of these conflicts. We form various divisions and then compete, sometimes in friendly ways, sometimes in not-so-friendly ways.
Yes, in nature competition is a basic principle that drives evolution. Survival of the fittest ensures the survival of the species that are strong enough to make it, and those who don't cease to exist. And while technically we may be animals ourselves, we have one thing they don't have: conscience.
It's basically the herd mentality taken to a conscious level. We care about each other because there's strength in unity. We often consider people who risk and sacrifice for others to be heroes or noble.
Of course we also admire those who win, those who achieve. But does competition still make us better? In some ways it has. It's driven us to create new technologies to help us compete, so it's contributed greatly to our technical evolution. I just don't think that competition makes us better people, just stronger persons. I think of Terrel Owens and many others who may be among the best at what they do, but they are hardly an example that many of us wish to follow.
We have in us the ability to transcend the fundamental need for competition and to truly work together. Can you imagine what could be accomplished if we stopped fighting over ethnic, religious, and political grounds and worked purely toward our betterment as a species? A lofty dream perhaps, but I think it's one of two inevitable results. The other is we lock ourselves in eternal struggle until we all die. Personally, I'd rather have the first option.
We do some terrible things throughout the world but I think its our competitive nature that is at the fundamental heart of these conflicts. We form various divisions and then compete, sometimes in friendly ways, sometimes in not-so-friendly ways.
Yes, in nature competition is a basic principle that drives evolution. Survival of the fittest ensures the survival of the species that are strong enough to make it, and those who don't cease to exist. And while technically we may be animals ourselves, we have one thing they don't have: conscience.
It's basically the herd mentality taken to a conscious level. We care about each other because there's strength in unity. We often consider people who risk and sacrifice for others to be heroes or noble.
Of course we also admire those who win, those who achieve. But does competition still make us better? In some ways it has. It's driven us to create new technologies to help us compete, so it's contributed greatly to our technical evolution. I just don't think that competition makes us better people, just stronger persons. I think of Terrel Owens and many others who may be among the best at what they do, but they are hardly an example that many of us wish to follow.
We have in us the ability to transcend the fundamental need for competition and to truly work together. Can you imagine what could be accomplished if we stopped fighting over ethnic, religious, and political grounds and worked purely toward our betterment as a species? A lofty dream perhaps, but I think it's one of two inevitable results. The other is we lock ourselves in eternal struggle until we all die. Personally, I'd rather have the first option.
Re: Aaah, I see now where you are confused.
Date: 13/3/09 14:47 (UTC)Re: Aaah, I see now where you are confused.
Date: 13/3/09 14:52 (UTC)Re: Aaah, I see now where you are confused.
Date: 13/3/09 15:08 (UTC)