Will humans rise past a competition based existence into a cooperation based existence?

Question

We always say that we're the most intelligent species on the planet and we always try to control nature...so how come we can't rise above nature?

Answer 1

Because competition is built into our genes. Since we were knuckle-dragging primates, our sole venture in life was to fight for space, women and food. For the majority of the world, this practice is still used.

To evolve into a Utopian society, we must do just that...evolve!

Answer 2

Intelligence doesn't necessarily equal co-operation.

We may try to control nature, but we don't - otherwise we would understand and redress global warming, pollution, wastage of natural resources and a myriad of other things we are hopeless at.

It is a basic tenet of existence that populations (whether human, animal or vegetable) will grow to the maximum allowable by the resources available. Thus, when resources become scarce, competition is inevitable.

You can see this for yourself in lots of small everyday occurrences.........people panic buying in petrol shortages, animals guarding and fighting for the best territory, rutting for the best mate...........good God, even our own sperm are in competition with each other !

Final word...........doesn't competition also lead to evolution ? Survival of the fittest ?

Answer 3

As it may be true that we are the most intelligent species on the planet, humans cannot survive without the existence of nature (plants, animals, etc.).

Answer 4

Nature is competitive, not cooperative. Animals kill each other, eat each other, fool each other with camoflauge and other "tricks." We have risen somewhat above that--the majority of humans don't eat other humans, don't kill/eat their young, and value compassion/honesty/etc. Some humans also actually aim towards cooperation rather than competition--few species do that!

Answer 5

Before the Industrial Revolution when the majority of human cilization were farmers, hunters/gatherers - we did have a coorperative existence. Now with the advent of technology and computers to do all our work for us, it has given us an immense amount of free time.
Do revert to a cooperative society, I think we must give up a good portion of the technology we have now.
Who wants to give up their computer, t.v., telephone, and car first?

Answer 6

Never. It's against out innate drive of being selfish. No one, aside from people like Mother Teresa, can claim to be unselfish. We all are, that's part of our survival instinct. We have always tried to control nature, we just freak out when she fights back.

Answer 7

No.

Because we are primates with attitude!

Paul