The drive to live, to fight for life is one of the most fundamental drives in nature. It is common to all life forms, and indeed in many interpretations forms that basis of the definition of life itself.
However, humans seem to be unique in the ability to turn off or short circuit this most fundamental of drives. This may take the form of one person giving up their life for another, as in the case of one person stepping in front of a bullet for someone else or someone jumping to their death off a tall building. Both of these involve giving up ones life. Now while we may attach noble qualities to the person who stepped in front of the bullet and (sometimes quite incorrectly) selfish qualities to the person who jumps off the building, the base question still remains.
How is it that we, as just another form of animal, can turn off or plain ignore one of your most basic and fundamental drives?
AND
How does this impact on the way that we as humans operate?
SERIOUS ANSERS ONLY!
Thanks.
2007-06-08
23:25:02
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10 answers
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asked by
Arthur N
4
in
Philosophy