2007-03-05 11:28:55 · 29 answers · asked by real_american_superhero 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Violence establishes control for the victor. It doesn't in and of itself solve a problem or ensure justice or 'rightness'.
A mugger uses violence to establish control - It may solve a problem in the eyes of the mugger (mugger solves the I don't have a wallet that isn't mine problem), but not in the eyes of anyone else (the wallet isn't the mugger's to claim in the first place).
A world leader commits genocide and enforced totalitarian rule on other nations. Threatened nations use violence to stop the genocide and totalitarian threat to their sovereignty. This violence by sovereign nations may solve a problem in the eyes of the sovereign nations (our way of life is being attacked), but not in the eyes of the genocidal, totalitarian state causing the conflict (these other nations just don't understand that we are right).
Its a matter of perspective more than anything else. The sad part is that people like the mugger and the totalitarian feel justified to use violence when they are the very demographic that are thought by everyone else to be the source of their own violence when it brings itself to being.
Does violence solve anything? Depends on who you ask. If you ask the victim of violence, surely they will say no. If you ask the victor of a violent act, surely they will say yes.
Why not ask why get violent in the first place rather than ask if violence solves anything? Certainly the answer will be different, but then again, you can't really expect a reliable answer from either biased party ('winner' and 'looser') after the violence has already happened can you?
Better to ask before there is such thing as a 'winner' and a 'looser' and hope people understand that in the end that if violence erupts, everyone involved is a looser and if it doesn't, everyone is a winner.
In my mind, the only thing that keeps people from accepting this idea is ego.
2007-03-05 12:22:00 · answer #1 · answered by Justin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's one reason violence dies so hard: in some cases, enough cases to perhaps justify it's continuing usage and existence, it DOES solve problem situations.
It's use must be deliberate and judicious... you can't be sloppy and thoughtless in doling it out. Far too few people have any idea of the right use of violence. Open the flood gates of a little sanctioned violence, and some people think everyone they don't agree with should be hung or beheaded.
I am toward violence as I am toward voting: I devoutly hope only good and wise people resort to it.
2007-03-05 19:35:46 · answer #2 · answered by McPacman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love this question. As much as people would like to believe that violence doesn't solve anything and that our species would be better off with out it, but violence has been deeply ingrained into our existence. The spectacle of violence is exciting. An act of violence is empowering. Violence is the answer to a lot of life's problems. If we could, as a society, embrace violence and not cower from it and condemn it... people wouldn't be such wussies.
2007-03-05 19:37:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Of course it does! Otherwise, people wouldn't still be trying to solve problems with violence. Like it or not, violence creates a situation in which there must be a winner and a loser. Otherwise, it's called compromise. Because there is a winner and loser, the problem is solved when the winner is crowned champion. They win...they get to solve the problem their way. Problem solved.
2007-03-05 21:18:02 · answer #4 · answered by Sirius Black 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Violence has plagued mankind since the days of the caveman. Does it solve anything? Of course not. Violence only causes more violence which in turn causes more violence, etc, etc. Will we ever see a day when there is no violence? No. Because even in a semi-perfect world there will all ways be people who want what they don't have, or want more than they should have. Violence and greed go hand in hand.
2007-03-05 19:38:53 · answer #5 · answered by sarge 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If the 'problem' is 'How do I create violence?' then a path to violence is certainly a solution. However, in your case 'anything' really means 'anything that leads to peace' in which case the answer is no, as the two (peace and violence) are negating concepts.
2007-03-05 19:53:16 · answer #6 · answered by Convictionist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not real sure? Check with Hitler, the citizens of Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Guernica, Hamburg, Dresden. Sure settled a lot for them. You could ask for help from the Great Auk, Passenger Pigeon and maybe some baby seals. Raw Naked violence has settle more issues then all the good will, and tree hugging in history.
2007-03-05 19:41:33 · answer #7 · answered by Jim R 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Violence makes the person doing it feel like they are in control. Also people around them are in fear of being the next to have the violence turned on them.
2007-03-05 19:38:44 · answer #8 · answered by ancestorhorse 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just ask the ancient Carthaginians!
Oh wait, you can't, they don't exist anymore, i guess the Romans solved that problem with violence pretty well.
2007-03-05 22:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by hq3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I don't think it really solves anything. If you could just talk out your problems instead of fighting, the world would be soo much better. Violence makes the world farther and farther from World Peace.
If everyone cared, and nobody cried, If everyone loved and nobody lied. If everyone shared, and swallowed their pride, then we'd see the day when nobody died. - Nickelback, If Everyone Cared
2007-03-05 19:34:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋