Debates
19 Apr 07
19 Apr 07
1 edit
If so, what is it? I often wonder what makes each of us so different, for different we are. Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to walk in the other persons sandals for a week?
Respect. Getting it and giving it seems to be an engine of sorts. We all need it and spend inordinate amounts of time seeking it. We find it the most difficult of all gifts to give away. It's as though we feel that by giving it away, we lose it like the mystical pixie dust of legendary ire.
Purpose. A soul without purpose is hateful and mean. It grows ever more alone in bitterness. But obtaining and serving a purpose drives civilization. Both it's evilness and it's goodness. We don't seem too concerned whether our purpose is noble or ignoble, as long as we find it.
"I go amongst the buildings of a city and I see a
man hurrrying along -- to what? The Creature hath
a purpose, and its eyes are bright with it."
John keats
Do you have bright eyes? If so, to what purpose?
19 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyThe only reason I would want to walk in another person's sandals for a week is that I would have a week's headstart on him by the time he realises I have pinched his sandals!
Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to walk in the other persons sandals for a week?
19 Apr 07
1 edit
Originally posted by knightwestlol
The only reason I would want to walk in another person's sandals for a week is that I would have a week's headstart on him by the time he realises I have pinched his sandals!
See. There you go. You have a purpose and need shoes! Civilization is repleat with such needs and "grabisms". Warning! See "Les Miserables" and old Javert before trying for the guys pants or his lunch pail though!
(edit) Actually, the entire Keats thing is a bit more interesting than the snippet I had in memory... Here is the full paragraph from his letters on nature...
"I go among the Fields and catch a glimpse of a stoat or a fieldmouse peeping out of the withered grass--the creature hath a purpose and its eyes are bright with it--I go amongst the buildings of a city and I see a Man hurrying along --to what? The creature hath a purpose and his eyes are bright with it."
19 Apr 07
1 edit
Originally posted by Darth SpongeThat person fills the same role as any other.
what if your purpose is to be hateful and mean?
I'm going to make this neutral and use the term "It" in lieu of He/She, just to save time. Feel free to do so per exemplum.
It will give respect to those of its kind. The world is about fifty fifty noble beings to ignoble beings. What you say should be obvious.
But a purpose is a purpose. As long as we have one... is all that seems to matter. Hey, look at all the worn out Commies on this chess site alone. Do you really think that they view COMMUNISM as anything but a death cult that they long for?
19 Apr 07
Originally posted by dottewellLOL
The progress of civilisation has a 80 per cent match rate with Fritz 10, which is high (but not necessarily conclusive). Fritz 10 would never have allowed reality television, for example.
I had to google it to know what you are on about. So you are saying that dangling your Bishop is more civilized than dangling your Pawn when inviting a premature attack?
That may sum up society, but I wonder whether it's an authoritative summation of civilization.
19 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyCivilization as in the buildings and technology? Or as in the way we act towards one another and our world?
If so, what is it? I often wonder what makes each of us so different, for different we are. Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to walk in the other persons sandals for a week?
Respect. Getting it and giving it seems to be an engine of sorts. We all need it and spend inordinate amounts of time seeking it. We find it the most difficult of all gifts ...[text shortened]... are bright with it."
John keats
Do you have bright eyes? If so, to what purpose?
19 Apr 07
1 edit
Originally posted by spruce112358Civilization is the accumulation of acts of civility between people. You respect me, i'll respect you. Or we can have a war.
Civilization as in the buildings and technology? Or as in the way we act towards one another and our world?
Buildings and Space Shuttles are just infrastructure that may or may not help obtain civility. Some things... like guns can serve to destroy civilization or create civilized dialogue. A thing is just a thing, but an Idea is forever and universal.
The art contained in the Taj Mahal is civilized. The complexity of Shaw Jahan is a study in civilization and society.
But alas, the Taj itself is just infrastructure in support of civilization and ideas of beauty and wealth.
Besides, the Taj did give Jahan's life meaning. It served its purpose in doing that.
19 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyI rather like this question.
If so, what is it? I often wonder what makes each of us so different, for different we are. Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to walk in the other persons sandals for a week?
Respect. Getting it and giving it seems to be an engine of sorts. We all need it and spend inordinate amounts of time seeking it. We find it the most difficult of all gifts ...[text shortened]... are bright with it."
John keats
Do you have bright eyes? If so, to what purpose?
Hmm, what makes civilisation tick? Well, they do say that manners maketh the man. However, I'd probably by more prone to say sex. Ultimately, we want to "do good" which, whilst we don't realise it, is the way our genes propagate through the millennia.
19 Apr 07
2 edits
Originally posted by scottishinnzSex is had by various means in nature. Most powerful. Most beautiful. Loudest etc...
I rather like this question.
Hmm, what makes civilisation tick? Well, they do say that manners maketh the man. However, I'd probably by more prone to say sex. Ultimately, we want to "do good" which, whilst we don't realise it, is the way our genes propagate through the millennia.
It has always facinated me that war seems to be the same. It can also come about by the same means as successful reproductive skills. Power, romance, rhetorical poetry etc...
A question almost at right angles to the notion of civilization is to ask ones self why war fever can so easily swamp all the efforts at peace so easily when times get crazy.
In order to understand this seemingly illogical conundrum, we must look to our inheritance from mother earth. Nature invented war. Man invented government.
Which is the most persuasive in the soul of man?
Can you imagine tens of thousands of people lining the streets of the capital; crying and weeping and rejoicing and grieving... gathered to send their sons and daughters off to congress? LOL
20 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyHow about intimacy?
If so, what is it? I often wonder what makes each of us so different, for different we are. Wouldn't it be fascinating to be able to walk in the other persons sandals for a week?
Respect. Getting it and giving it seems to be an engine of sorts. We all need it and spend inordinate amounts of time seeking it. We find it the most difficult of all gifts ...[text shortened]... are bright with it."
John keats
Do you have bright eyes? If so, to what purpose?
We all seek it - although we all have a different definition for it.
20 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyIsn't war just another example of a quest to secure resources, so that my group (genes, family, tribe) can reproduce more at the expense of your group?
Sex is had by various means in nature. Most powerful. Most beautiful. Loudest etc...
It has always facinated me that war seems to be the same. It can also come about by the same means as successful reproductive skills. Power, romance, rhetorical poetry etc...
A question almost at right angles to the notion of civilization is to ask ones self why w ...[text shortened]... g and rejoicing and grieving... gathered to send their sons and daughters off to congress? LOL
20 Apr 07
Originally posted by StarValleyWyMan is not opposed to Nature, but a part of it. Doesn't that entail that societies are a natural phenomenon and a trait of our species? This is what many people fail to grasp.
Nature invented war. Man invented government.
Which is the most persuasive in the soul of man?
Also, war is a word that is only meaningful to species that live in organized groups. War then cannot be more "natural" than societies. Individual fights for survival cannot be considered "wars", in my opinion.