What does it say about mankind that we are still grapling with exactly the same kinds of issues...?

Question

What does it say about mankind that we are still grapling with exactly the same kinds of issues...?

...as we did 2000 years ago?

People still refer to Plato, Aristotle, and such who cite political, social, and economic problems they had which we also still have.

In fact, I don't think mankind has 'solved' a single socio-economic problem (not even slavey which still exists, 2000 years later!) in the world while technology (as it is independent of human nature) continues to be man's most valuable tool.

Answer 1

The fact that a problem hasn't been addressed to PERFECT eradication does not mean that significant improvements and advancements have not been made. In fact, most areas of the human condition have improved so much, that the issues of 2000 years ago are only similar to ours in name only.

We have made lives significantly better for ourselves over the past 2000 years. For example:
The percentage of population that are enduring a given hardship is a fraction of the percentage that did so 2000 years ago. Medical advances: We live twice as long, stand twice as tall, have a fraction of the infant moratlity rate, and are far more likely to die with our hearing, sight, and teeth intact. AIDs doesn't touch a fraction of the population of diseases that has decimated humans in the past like influenza, plague, and cholera. Economic advances: It's pretty evident that the low income person of today is significantly more comfortable than the richest Roman, Greek, or other aristocrat of old. Indoor heating, plumbing, and cooking come to mind. Canning, freezing, etc. weren't around 2000 years ago. Remember when entire nations went to war over supplies of salt and vinegar? Social: The percentage of those subject to slavery today is miniscule compared to nearly all of past human history. Also throw out indentured servitude and child labor conditions, which are significantly less than anytime in past history. They were tackling a 40% slavery problem, we're tackling a <1%. Not the same - our problem is significantly different (and less) than theirs.

True - Plato and Aristotle are quoted even today, but their words are inherently translated into contemporary thoughts. We don't hear them in the context that they said them. They were watching slave masters legally whip their child servants on public streets, while we are fretting over a comedian saying the "N" word on stage.

Answer 2

Just look at our society and look at what it's centered around and that's your answer. We are constantly being dumbed down. Instead of challenging ourselves with theories and new ideas, we're more worried about who's gonna get anna's baby and why britney shaved her head. And I know it's depressing, but we won't ever be as smart as we were 200 years ago again. You can look back throughout history and see how we have slowly de-evolved from the thinking outside the box like people used to. When was the last genius born? I'm pretty sure we're looking as far back as einstein. Anytime a civilization starts becoming more advanced, a lesser society will jump in and tear them down.

Answer 3

It is deffinetly an enlightenment issue, if enough people were open minded, and unselfish, things could change for the better. I think some relegions breed closed mindedness which is a cause for the lack of movement in the area of are social problems. another is the biases we learn growing up, racial and class. both of these are very hard for the majority of people to willfully change

Answer 4

http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/en/hume.htm

David Hume said something in this fashion, that there is no good reason to expect the future to conform to the past. If you are dissatisfied with those superiors, then you and I should make attempts to show their failings.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm

It is class struggle.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative. In the hand of Judgment all tools are infinitely distructive.

Answer 5

Human nature cannot be changed. We are animals nonetheless, it would take some hefty enlightenment to make people all see the same way and agree with each other on everything.

Answer 6

Paul summarizes the answer to your question perfectly.

Per www.biblegateway.com

Romans 3

No One is Righteous

9What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
12All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one."
13"Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit."
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."
14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16ruin and misery mark their ways,
17and the way of peace they do not know."
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Answer 7

It says that mankind is flawed. Our brains have certain goals, but they are unattainable as we are now.