Comments on: On Humanity http://blog.operator-speaking.com/2010/04/15/on-humanity/ Sun, 01 Apr 2012 09:28:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: ex nihilo http://blog.operator-speaking.com/2010/04/15/on-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1535 ex nihilo Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:33:39 +0000 http://blog.operator-speaking.com/?p=5338#comment-1535 without any other contextualization, Huxley sounds like he's commenting on some hobbesian state-of-nature, and is really pessimistic about the human psyche. i guess it's all the more confusing because he seems to be talking from experience, as if he's seen humans for what we REALLY are. somehow he managed to swallow the bitter pill (too)? without any other contextualization, Huxley sounds like he’s commenting on some hobbesian state-of-nature, and is really pessimistic about the human psyche. i guess it’s all the more confusing because he seems to be talking from experience, as if he’s seen humans for what we REALLY are. somehow he managed to swallow the bitter pill (too)?

]]> By: The Operator http://blog.operator-speaking.com/2010/04/15/on-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1530 The Operator Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:04:03 +0000 http://blog.operator-speaking.com/?p=5338#comment-1530 <strong>@NIHIL</strong> I believe Huxley is suggesting a view of humans "from the vantage of the grander scheme" (i.e. beyond the perception of the common human's consciousness) - look down at an anthill and you'd have a fair picture of an alien consciousness' view of human activities on the planet, though it's fair to say we're more destructive than ants. <strong>@Dekorte</strong> Probably not an <em>aberration</em> that one would take the exterminator / self-exterminator view, though I'd wager there are far more people who choose to ignore the premise (compare the ratio of warmongers and suicides to people who choose to procreate ... and exacerbate the problem). Perhaps it's worth asking whether Huxley is suggesting a third path - enlightened self-disinterest, a change of focus from hubris and destructive activities to progressively-redemptive actions towards ourselves and eachother - or is he ultimately pessimistic about our nature and the future of the species? @NIHIL I believe Huxley is suggesting a view of humans “from the vantage of the grander scheme” (i.e. beyond the perception of the common human’s consciousness) – look down at an anthill and you’d have a fair picture of an alien consciousness’ view of human activities on the planet, though it’s fair to say we’re more destructive than ants.

@Dekorte Probably not an aberration that one would take the exterminator / self-exterminator view, though I’d wager there are far more people who choose to ignore the premise (compare the ratio of warmongers and suicides to people who choose to procreate … and exacerbate the problem).

Perhaps it’s worth asking whether Huxley is suggesting a third path – enlightened self-disinterest, a change of focus from hubris and destructive activities to progressively-redemptive actions towards ourselves and eachother – or is he ultimately pessimistic about our nature and the future of the species?

]]> By: Steve Dekorte http://blog.operator-speaking.com/2010/04/15/on-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1529 Steve Dekorte Sat, 17 Apr 2010 23:12:12 +0000 http://blog.operator-speaking.com/?p=5338#comment-1529 Is he suggesting that behavior isn't already commonplace? Is he suggesting that behavior isn’t already commonplace?

]]> By: ex nihilo http://blog.operator-speaking.com/2010/04/15/on-humanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1528 ex nihilo Sat, 17 Apr 2010 05:49:30 +0000 http://blog.operator-speaking.com/?p=5338#comment-1528 that's a little confusing. what does huxley have in mind, what are humans REALLY like? and, what is it that we're supposed to be shown? seems like we can't help but see what humans are really like. i take it that he's talking about evil things people would do IF put into situations which permit them, but i think he should give humanity credit for *attempting* to build walls to safeguard the things worth cherishing. that’s a little confusing. what does huxley have in mind, what are humans REALLY like? and, what is it that we’re supposed to be shown? seems like we can’t help but see what humans are really like.
i take it that he’s talking about evil things people would do IF put into situations which permit them, but i think he should give humanity credit for *attempting* to build walls to safeguard the things worth cherishing.

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