The problem ultimately is tribalism - the resentment of competition in an overcrowded world, as evidenced above with tribal notions of "secularists" and theists. The focus on shallow infighting rather than the broader existential situation prevents effective action. Much is said about "higher values" in the theoretical realm, but those most fervent seem to be the least likely to actually subscribe to them.Dubious wrote: ↑Tue Apr 17, 2018 12:35 amThat’s a valid point even though it seems the more we know without the time to digest causes more mental constipation and confusion becoming ever more insidious to ourselves and the planet. At this time in particular the paradigms of "progress" demand to be examined where once it was only the individual.
While extremists of all types are prospering today, I think they are on the way out - that the future will increasingly belong to moderate thinkers. With the aid of powerful machine logic, the claims of those interested in fostering division will increasingly lose their power to convince as their ideas look ever more uncentred and insufficiently reasoned.
I think the awfulness of humans is simply the awfulness of life. It's the animal within that commits the atrocities - that is selfish, short sighted, atavistic and unreasonable. It's the human side that is more responsive to reason. We live in a system were growth becomes stagnation without destruction, where matter eats itself in order to survive and grow. The only way out that I see is for humans to transcend biology and largely lock themselves away from the Earth's energy cycles, either though advanced VR immersion or shifting off world.Dubious wrote:Not laughable at all! That thought often came to me mainly in those moments of regarding the human species as one of the most execrable creations in the galaxy occupying the landfill area of it; but it was never a singular conclusion. The thought that there could be worse inevitably followed simply as a more sinister extension of ourselves.
Of course various mystics and new agers talk about humans becoming wise and reasonable through God. It's true on an individual level or on a small scale that people can grow to become better people quite rapidly, but it's a fantasy en masse, applied to seven billion people of various cultural groups. Improved ethics is no doubt part of the solution/s, but ethics mean little with an empty belly, illustrating the fundamental problem of needing to extract energy from other life forms to survive.
The inside out perspective that we are forced to adopt is akin to a child growing up without role models and, as you say, the problems of humanity keep repeating, changing form, with mental and ethical progress being increasingly concentrated and patchy. Societies are maturing unevenly, with ever greater class divisions emerging. Like piglets, the largest gain best access to the best "teats" while runts are pushed aside to starve.Dubious wrote:Definitely a handicap. Even when we default to comparing very different civilizations in all ages the differences are minimal human nature being what it is.
Based on our solitary confinement the future depends on thinking and examining from an inside-out perspective not only being right but as importantly being in time; late metanoias rarely help but do cause a lot of regret. Also, there are always clues and feedback in spite of receiving only CMB signals from the universe at large. But as in any chess game, the pawns are usually the first to get removed from the grand cosmic chessboard...the ultimate playing field.
