Thread: The Sanctity of Human Life

Originally Posted by rockgazer69

be patient

Why, are they clearing the lot for your new house?

Originally Posted by Decker

I think survival of the fittest could be further elucidated as survival of the fittest for adaptation. Organisms, philosophical systems, ethical systems, manufacturing systems survive based on the ability to adapt to whatever the environment offers. Those that cannot adapt or adapt as well as others are marginalized or die out.

I agree with that... the extinct echo that message fully

It follows that evolution is a method of refining/culling out the things that cannot adapt to the given environment. So as a paradigmatic method inherent in existence, I'd say everything 'values' the things we do...namely adaptation.

Everything values the things we do, or we value everything else? Yes and no to both

I dont think that I'd be willing to full say that "everything" values the things we do, but that specifically adaption does. And some other things too of course.

[size=3][color=red][size=2][color=#000000]That sounds a little like the notion of arete in Classical Antiquity. The idea here is that man's purpose in life is to achieve excellence--no matter what the endeavor. Putting evolutionary adaptation at the summit of human endeavor is very interesting. What could be more excellent than evolutionary adaptation resulting in further survival?

Yay, exactly my point. Indeed, what more could we ever aim for than to achieve excellence in all things? Specifically in those things involving evolution.

You sound a lot like Bill Hicks w/ your idea that things other than physical organisms evolve....I mean we already have opposable thumbs, the next step could likely be in the mind/social strata (possibly a society that predicates its constitution on reason and values scientific calculus in maintaining a livable planet and....I can dream goddammit!)

Haha, well I suppose I do at that. Truly though, from our current perspective, what more do we have left to evolve? Would another arm help us? Or a better nose? A pair of wings? Two arms is plenty for me... I buy my food at a market so dont need a better nose to hunt with, and I can buy an airplane to fly. Why I would not say that man is at the pinnacle of pefection in regards to what we think to be "good looking" or "extremely fit" (at least not most of them), the human body fulfills its purpose very well. If there is indeed evolution taking place... its going to have to find a different means of adaptation. Knowledge/Culture must be that means as far as I can tell.

Well yes, a society like that would be just dandy. Now too bad I don't have a couple billion to go buy my own island somewhere and create the perfect utopian society

Adaptation and excellence applies to everything--the physical and psychological...that's a given, so man's purpose is no more apparent than when we started.

There is a complete difference in something existing, and knowing something. So I would challenge that mans purpose is definitely more clear. Of course I'm sure I've mirrored somebody in the past, but none the less, its still what I've arrived at largely on my own.

If mans purpose is to evolve (whether physically or mentall), then that gives us a system of ethics to live by, for our primary goal should be to fulfill our purpose. How man treats others is a huge issue in the world today, and I dont think we can spend too much time contemplating the issue.

I don't think you mean 'enjoy the time we do have' as a serious hedonistic or epicurean exhortation. Life is, above all, suffering--just ask Christ and the Buddha. Reminds me of The Meaning of Life:

I definitely don't mean that we should live life in an extreme hedonistic sort of way, but as to the pursuit of happiness and good things, I do not find the more conservitive hedonistic principals offensive. After all, living a good life with some good things around you... staying healthy and taking care of the body, working hard to fulfill your dreams, those are all things that are not offensive to evolution. As to Epircurean, that would be an extreme, and much of it would be at odds with the principals I was espousing.

Well, it's nothing
special. Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a
good book every now and then, get some walking in and try and
live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds
and nations.

It may not be anything special, but its something that man has been unable to accomplish on a large scale since his beginning.