embrace selfishness, hate, and violence over love, understanding, and compassion?
I speak of humanity as a whole.
2007-11-26 01:28:35 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
i see.
one can only embrace selfishness, hate and violence if they are in love with them self.
however, if you have love, understanding and compassion. then you understand self.
the question is contradictory in context, nothing more.
they are one in the same, love and hate that is...
2007-11-26 01:34:27 · answer #1 · answered by The Nihilist 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From the results we see in the world, the choice you present is clearly being made with horrifying frequency.
Why, though, is a tougher question, because in fact, it is a choice, and once made, no harder than any other choice.
My father was narcissistic, and many of his actions were overwhelmingly selfish if not outright violent. I don't know why he was the way he was. Many people behave badly because all the models they have up to this point have been selfish, hate-filled, or violent. Still, it's possible to look at a wider world and decide to break the chain of bad behavior. When I was 15 or 16, I made a choice to live my life differently. I was embarrassed by his behavior, and decided not to repeat it.
I embraced education, which I think has helped me with understanding. The compassion was part of why I broke the chain. I became an advocate for children in an effort to change my own life, and it has been a good choice.
Once the choice is made, it's like "I will never rob a 7-11." You simply never have to make the choice again, but you may have to learn new behaviors.
For humanity as a whole, the payoff is quick for selfishness, but the payoff for love and compassion is larger and longer term. We've been sold a false good, that of the value of possessions over the value of self-worth. It's easier to identify the pile of stuff, and harder to evaluate the internal comfort that may accompany a kinder, gentler life choice.
2007-11-26 09:51:03 · answer #2 · answered by Arby 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not embracing, it's just that human nature tends to go to the direction of equality. So if a person has suffered hatred and violence, that is what he shows to other people too. And the recipients of those qualities will propagate the same thing. Try giving love and compassion and it will spread like wildfire and in no time it will come back to you.
2007-11-26 09:47:55 · answer #3 · answered by Eureka 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think selfishness, hate and violence are easier to embrace or more plentiful in the world. They just get more airplay.
If we look around us closely; signs of love, understanding, compassion and generosity are everywhere in abundance.
We tend to take them for granted; they happen in small ways all around us - we need to take more notice I think.
2007-11-26 09:51:00 · answer #4 · answered by Pandora 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our "thoughts" are full of selfishness, anger, and judgment. Without these, Humanity would "BE" Love, Understanding, Compassion, and Mercy!
2007-11-26 10:28:51 · answer #5 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the last three take more work /effort, one has to think outside of theirselfs, outside of the moment,
and often one has to question what they have been taught in childhood and what they have observed
for instance violence, many people will say violence is wrong, yet how many countries/nations have made the hitting of children by parents/guardians illegal? very few, only one that i know of
so we are really sending a message that violence is ok, that its ok for those bigger and stronger to be violent with others, its ok to rework concepts in your own mind/in society to suit the needs of those in power
even what is hate, what is love, what is selfish what is not, what is violent what is not, all get mixed up , get double meanings, and then what we say is not what we practice
hence its not surprising that children grow up to embrace the negatives
2007-11-26 09:39:12 · answer #6 · answered by dlin333 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since we're all giving our opinions.
I think we are all born in sin.
From the time we are a baby we have to learn to not obey
the sin inside us all!
It is by examples we grew up with, that helps mold us into
who we are good/bad.
But I agree that it is by free will choice.
We have the choice every day to be nice or grumpy or
generous or selfish.
It lyes within ourselves to change our own behavior and
actions.
Although some may need extra help sometimes I believe it
is still up to us.
2007-11-26 13:45:52 · answer #7 · answered by Julie N 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋