Writing for HS, AM (Scalice, '07)
Response to Worldview
Posted by asalazar at 2007/07/08 12:04:45 PDT
Edited at 2007/07/08 12:05:58 PDT

I wholeheartedly believe in Joseph's thesis that, as humans, we are instinctive in helping our fellow humans even when that instinct has not been nurtured or entirely manifested. I also concur that it is our responsibility to assist humans in need rather than observing as bystanders admiring our own fortunateness. I can support this claim because I do participate in fund-raisers that feed the poor or give gifts to the less fortunate. So the ethical demand that gravitates humanity toward an instinctive sameness resides in my self-consciousness constantly and I am just as guilty as everyone else in my apathy. I also agree with the fact that society does have a decadence to it that is way too shallow in its purpose; as it gorges on a surplus of resources that could provide so much for others on the other side of the Earth. The money invested and wasted from political campaigns, private jets, spoiled brats' sweet sixteen parties, cosmetic surgery, homes that could pass for hotels, political payoffs and ongoing nepotism could all have been used to help a greater good that will constantly be in disequilibrium. I believe if we act with more humility and with more charity it will not only save our own soul's sanity but it could save others this is the major dissension I have with Joseph's view.

As humans it is true we have a self-consciousness to become ethical toward others in a giving way but we also have the instinct to survive through competition, which is what defines the state of nature we still subsist. Joseph's stipulation for a sane world that "each person receives according to their needs and labors according to their abilities" is an ideal filled with only good intentions for humanity but is fatally wrong because it contradicts humanity's inclination for competition and it will provide a hierarchy that Joseph himself calls out to be a human injustice. Charles Darwin once theorized nature evolves to meet the stresses of the environment presented and runs on the basic program of survival of the fittest. Not coincidentally, humanity runs on the same program. I believe humanity will never reach an equality in socio-economic stature because we all have different passions and goals that drives us to our own means of surviving, therefore those of us who wish not to work or become productive members of society will not have equal socio-economic status to someone who works harder to achieve their goal. This example works in nature, if a group of a species is born with a trait suitable for it to survive it will flourish with offspring just as strong; while if another of that same species is born without that vital trait that group will die to allow the strong to continue through evolution. If Joseph's ideal was applied to nature then every group of a species would receive the nourishment to survive but the weak would dilute the gene pool and inhibit evolution and progress. As humans we need to compete to innovate and evolve our own knowledge but if we are provided resources without trying to work beyond our limits we will go backwards in our evolution. Lastly, in order to distribute the needs of humans equally it would need a complex bureaucracy to be successful. Referring back to the history of civilizations who tried to function on a bureaucracy we have clear evidence such a system will not work because of inefficiency in distribution and those in bureaucratic positions will abuse their power. These things will happen because it is inherent human nature, those in power will strive to keep it manifesting even more inequality and injustice. I will stake my belief that people's effort should be rewarded disproportionately based on the energy and passion they exert because that is how nature has operated since life's existence. And as long as those who have made a fortune off hard work act charitably and refrain from decadence they deserve what they have achieved, that is my definition of freedom.

2007/07/08 17:14:56 PDT by jscalice

Alexander,

This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking response. Thank you.

A few thoughts:

Richard Dawkins argues that we, human beings, have reached a fundamental turning point in our evolution. We are no longer selected for by the mechanisms of natural selection and sexual selection; these are no longer the primary agents of humans evolution. Our biological evolution is now subordinate to our cultural and social evolution. Dawkins refers to the former as genetic evolution and to the latter as memetic. In a competitive struggle for survival, an individual with mild Down's syndrome, for example, would not be able to compete for resources. In our culturally developed modes of behavior, however, we can be thankful that this member of our species will have the necessary resources provided to him. "To each according to his needs..." Despite his relative inability to participate as a contributing member of society we do not deny him his needed subsistence. A genuine society founded on competition would quickly weed out such "unfit" individuals. Fortunately we do not believe in such behavior and we provide for those who cannot provide for themselves.

What in fact makes us human, Fromm argued in the article we read last Monday, is our moving beyond the limits inscribed by our biology, in fashioning a truly human world.

I would further argue that those who are suffering from want and deprivation do not suffer as a result of a failure to work, or a lack of competitive instinct. The many, many incredibly impoverished people of my close personal acquaintance are also the hardest workers that I know. They work their fingers bare in sweatshops manufacturing the GAP clothing that we sport here in the United States. They giving beyond their ability and yet their needs are not yet met. Something is clearly wrong.

What is often labeled human nature, including the desire to compete, are in fact historical products. Certainly we share a desire to compete but what shape that competition takes is clearly historical circumscribed. That we now compete for resources which are in truth NOT limited is an insane product of the current dominant economic system, capitalism.

We compete on a daily basis in a far healthier ways. I compete with my self to become smarter, better read, polylingual, and so on. I compete with close friends in sports, in verbal debates, in academics - all of this competition is conducted in a healthy manner. To what end? That I might be a better person. We compete to drive ourselves forward to realize more of the potential of our species in ourselves. This is healthy competition.

Most of the world suffers, not from a lack of competitive instinct, but from the theft of their labor, from wages which cannot buy sufficient food for their families, from economic exploitation backed by political repression. This is injustice: not merely inequality, but exploitation.

Sorry for the rant but you inspired me. Take it as a compliment. I look forward to seeing you in class.

J

The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point, however, is to change it. - KM

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