I'm sure everyone has by now
heard the ancient "human nature" argument: that human beings are
innately selfish, greedy, violent pricks who will always be that way and thus
need constant harsh rule and order to prevent mass chaos and mob rule.
You hear this all the time. It's
used constantly to maintain the status quo. It has been and will continue
to be seized by past, present, and future anti-progressives to avoid looking at
our society and the effects of our environment and its influences. The human
nature argument is a very useful tool, for it functions as an escape from
reality and an excuse to avoid responsibility.
Well, I've got news for those
self-appointed guardians of the status quo: they’re wrong. In fact, they are
proven wrong again and again as time goes by.
Various forms of dedicated,
serious research has shown that human beings are social beings who are most
happy and content when they live healthy, productive lives with each other in
an atmosphere of trust, love, and cooperation. We didn't always live in a world
where we fight each other for survival, not to mention any and every advantage
we could get.
Don’t want to take my word for
it? That’s perfectly fine. Actually, that’s the perfect reaction. I am
definitely not an expert, and I have been and will continue to be wrong about
countless things beyond a quantifiable measure. I can say, however, that in
this case I can back up my claims substantially.
Start with The Spirit Level, a book by Dr.
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Blanchett. It is definitely worth your time. From
there, you’ll find links to incredible treasure troves of information that will
continually blow you away.
Why am I advocating this so
strongly, you may ask? Well, you’ll understand why when you realize just how
interconnected everything and everyone is, and how our condition is tightly
knotted to that of our environment and other human beings.
On an ending note, think of the
special people in your life. Think of the priceless memories, feelings, and
experiences you share with them.
Don't you feel, think, perform,
and, most importantly, LIVE better when you have relationships of mutual trust
and love with good people?
Do you really think those things
are just complete accidents because we are actually the savages that we're
taught we are?
