So, the thread about Meat inspired me to make this one. So what do you think about compassion and love in general ? Do you think that these are just psyhological terms, or there is something more behind them ? Maybe you even think that they refer to Higher Power of Good or something. And are these phenomenons are in human nature indeed or were they just inplanted to our minds by society ? So, spell it out, my fellow phylosophers! And also, lets talk about who deserves them.
I voted "I think that they are stupid and unnecessary. Pure intelligence is the answer!" for many reasons. The biggest reason is that I think that they are stupid and unnecessary. Pure intelligence is the answer!
Humans have been proven to be social creatures due to our mating habits. The same can be observed in many different kinds of animals as well. Lions, for example if I recall correctly, stay with one other partner for the majority of their lives for the most part. Love and compassion then, are just like many other emotions we feel, a lingering instinct that we maintain so as to continue this style of living that we've head since the dawn of man. It's not exactly necessary as that can be proven through the observation of other species, Sparrows for examples are quite the rampantly growing population and they do the opposite of what we do, they do what they what with who they want. Now despite it's lack of necessity, it's not to say it can't be enjoyed, though it's also a double-bladed sword; it can hurt as much as it can heal.
I believe in a God, although I also believe that love is human nature. It doesn't just stop at humans though. Animals have love towards their offspring. They also care for their fellow herd members. So compassion isn't limited to humans.
As a cold thoughtless robot, I have determined that humans are agressive in nature. We strive to be the alpha male, so we can mate. We mate with those that are strong and in turn healthy. Look strong, be strong. Be strong, get mates. Our intelligence has blinded us that the only purpose in life is to ensure the survival of our species. We are the only animals with the abilities and the intelligence to allow us to make tools, however we are the only ones that need to busy ourselves with pointless endeavors so that intelligence doesn't drive us insane with paranoia and other mental anguishes. Altruism ISN'T in our nature. It is a false concept created by our ever-expanding intellect so the weak can attempt to mate. This was then adopted by many of the strong for some unknown reason. Now nature's filter created to weed out the inferior has failed, as will our species. We have lost track what was needed. We need strength to eat and build. Now we need intellect, that which is our own poison, to fill our stomachs. The strength of a community is also a curse, for this is not how we were meant to live. This is an illusion by the weak so they can continue their pointless lives. I am in no way saying I am weak or strong, for that is the purpose of all of our lives: reproduce and die.
The problem is that some people feel compassion not only for other people, but for animals, for example. And some animals sometimes show compassion to representatives of other species, including man. How can you explain that ? For example, i know a true story about a dog who raised little kittens as own children, because their mother was killed. Not only it's strange because we are talking about different species here, but also because we are talking about DOG and KITTENS.
Well, i allready know guys how you think of any mysticism.=) And as far as i don't have any actual proves to what i am writing, i will not argue. I will just write my opinion and how this situation is explained in tantric buddhism. As far as we are all the same in our true spiritual form and because there is a rebirth proccess going on, all animals could have been humans and gods in previous lifes. That means that they had a chanse to improve their spirituality wich includes improving their compassion. And, for example, some man or god, who has improved compassion, just does something wrong. After that in the next life he becomes an animal, but compassion, even if partly, still remains in his entity. So every soul(or better to write "an entity", if we are talking about tantric buddhism) in the world is in constant proccess of spiritual improvement or spiritual degradation. That's why we have such situations when animals feel compassion for humans or other animals. And also it explains why some people have love and compassion in their hearts and some are more like sensless computers, or worse- evil and destructive.=) No offence, again. And i tend to believe in this version. I think it's a good explanation. And again it's just my opinion and i am not saying that it's ultimate truth, so no arguing plz.=)
fair enough. back to the matter at hand though, so I chose the middle one - it seemed the most neutral to me, and also represents best my opinion. I'm rather surprised though that I was the only one that chose this: "There is no God or Higher Power and Compassion/ Love are not in human nature. But they're needed." I say I'm surprised mostly because of the overwhelming winner of the poll which was there is no god, but then at the same time compassion is somehow inherent. Maybe it is a difference of understanding of what "nature" is... I view nature as just being right down to the DNA level when you are first conceived; everything after that is "nurture" --> and thus I believe humans are taught to be compassionate. They are taught to love each other, and take care of each other and this is a great thing and I completely agree that this is needed. Purely self-centered actions based only on short-term intellect are a dangerous road to go down, since children still need to be raised (a long term endeavor) in order to continue our species.
Then what would be the point? If God wanted people to follow him blindly just because he is there then he would have made us like that, blind sheep that do only what he says, but because he gave us a choice AND free will to do what we want, it means all the more to him when someone chooses to love him and follow him despite all the things happening in the world around them. Sorry, I just couldn't let that stand out there without some justification. Back on the topic at hand. I believe Love and Compassion are from God seeing as I believe he created everything and that he in essence is love and creation. Just my opinion...
I'm gonna get some real hate for this, but. I'm a Pragmatic Agnostic. (Inb4 "Agnosticism is just wrong/a protection device/ a Red Herring!!!111" and all that ilk.) So naturally, I believe there can be a god, but personally, I don't care. If he exists, cool. If he doesn't, okay. But in my thoughts, compassion is an innate thing it comes to all human beings, some choose to ignore their compassion and eventually it can become easier to ignore, but we all are born with the same capacity for compassion and love. (But since Agnosticism is such Taboo. Go ahead guys lay it on me.)
It goes without saying that all humans are pretty similar. We all usually have similarly structured brains which operate using similar balances of the same chemicals and electric signals with slightly different complex variations in structure and effect from person to person. Our bodies quite frequently respond the the same chemicals in exactly the same way over and over again. Any "necessary" qualities of human nature can be divined by observing this process. So, what is love? [video=youtube;0ZlnPB8sHh8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZlnPB8sHh8[/video] When we see a fire, what we're actually seeing is the reaction of heat with the assembled compounds in the fire. Similarly, when we speak of love, we're actually speaking of the entire chemical reaction which occurs in very specific situations. As humans, our brain is generally wired to seek lifelong companionship for the purpose of breeding and perpetuating our species. However, humans have evolved to the point where we have attained a certain level of self-awareness which, though it cannot entirely erase our instincts, can certainly empower us to overpower them. At this point, the words "love" and "compassion" mean to us that we are choosing to feel a certain way, and not that we are programmed to do so. That's why, if you were to tell a person that feeling love is just a balance of chemicals, they wouldn't believe you. From a certain point of view, it is just a bunch of chemicals after all, but the aspect of choice is incorporated. My mother once told me this: "Love isn't something you feel, it's something you do." I think she meant that the choice to love someone is what makes a difference. That choice is what differentiates these two kinds of love: that which is evolutionarily programmed, and that which is learned.
"Compassion and Love are from God/Higher Power of Good for sure! " I foresee a shift in the thread topic coming soon... Anyway, I did vote for this because of how important I feel the quality of compassion really is. [see quote in sig]
