Op 09-apr-97 schreef Lubna Nadvi:
>Hi,
>I think there might be something to Freud's notion of Eros and Thanatos,
>iow's as humans we posess "drives" that make us want to either kill or
>preserve life, and it is the institutions of power that mould these drives
>into moral acts or categories. The question is, why do we not kill ? Is
>it because we have been taught by various institutions since childhood
>(ie, religious, educational, parental etc), that we will be punished, if
>we do something bad, so theres an element of fear in morality, or is it
>because, the Kantian imperative is simply a matter of adhering to a sense
>of moral responsibility, based on human dignity, respect etc.
>I think that there is an essential human nature, but the only thing that is
>essential and primordial about this nature is its potential to be
>constructed into a particular kind of nature. The potential is the basis
>for the manipulation. Which raises all sorts of questions
>about the human individual. To what degree does s/he have a choice over
>who or what s/he becomes. Are the institutions of power etc, all
>encompassing.
>Your thoughts ....???
this seems to me a rather metaphysical line of thought. why not stay faithfull
to the earth: those human tribes who were killing each other all the time,
just were not succesfull in keeping themselves and their families alive. so
more peacefull communities became smarter and had more food, the procreated
themselves. all great civilisations were agricultural, which means they depend
om peace.
my point: culture and peace are not luxury and superfluous: their necessary
for the survival of the human race.
regards
erikh
>Hi,
>I think there might be something to Freud's notion of Eros and Thanatos,
>iow's as humans we posess "drives" that make us want to either kill or
>preserve life, and it is the institutions of power that mould these drives
>into moral acts or categories. The question is, why do we not kill ? Is
>it because we have been taught by various institutions since childhood
>(ie, religious, educational, parental etc), that we will be punished, if
>we do something bad, so theres an element of fear in morality, or is it
>because, the Kantian imperative is simply a matter of adhering to a sense
>of moral responsibility, based on human dignity, respect etc.
>I think that there is an essential human nature, but the only thing that is
>essential and primordial about this nature is its potential to be
>constructed into a particular kind of nature. The potential is the basis
>for the manipulation. Which raises all sorts of questions
>about the human individual. To what degree does s/he have a choice over
>who or what s/he becomes. Are the institutions of power etc, all
>encompassing.
>Your thoughts ....???
this seems to me a rather metaphysical line of thought. why not stay faithfull
to the earth: those human tribes who were killing each other all the time,
just were not succesfull in keeping themselves and their families alive. so
more peacefull communities became smarter and had more food, the procreated
themselves. all great civilisations were agricultural, which means they depend
om peace.
my point: culture and peace are not luxury and superfluous: their necessary
for the survival of the human race.
regards
erikh