Reply #56: The long-term trend ... [View All]

[Ron Green]

I admire your optimism about the long-term prospects for the adaptation of the species toward the "dislike of war" meme. I think that each of us has both the fear necessary for the "love for war" and the Higher Self to promote the "dislike of war."

If we allow that the natural state of fear-based (time- and space- bound) humans is slavery, and the natural state of love-based (spiritual, or striving for connection with others) humans is enlightened liberal society, then the prospects for progress are dim, because although the meme may change due to adaptivity, the fact of our animal nature and primal fear will not go away, unless we were to evolve into some sort of spirit being without our animal bodies.

When I think of the Elizabethan period as perhaps one of more general enlightenment than today, I also remember the awful tortures and degradations that happened then. Along with the civility of small-town life where I grew up, there was the ugliness of segregation and racism.

In all, I believe that it's always been cyclical, and that Enlightenment comes and goes. Two concerns for me: 1) Our war making methodology has become frighteningly efficient, even to the point of removing much of the danger from killing others. If war is too easy, how in the hell can we try to love our enemies? 2) We have used up large parts of our planet in recent decades, and our philosophy hasn't caught up with this reality. The slavery/enlightenment cycle is disrupted by this finitude of resources.

I hope with you, but my fear is that the long term is not any better than it's ever been.