The Quest for Harmony
Do we always need to fight?32 total reviews
Comment from Frank Malley
"The Quest for Harmony" is an exceptional essay that tries to identify the aspects of our natures that surround and sting us like deer flies and poke us away from the rationsal and wise initiative to refine our statements, finc common ground, and cooperate. There is too much said in this piece for a brief review to genuinely analyze, but there is a hint regarding the central problem of ego within humanity; ego opens up volumes of commentary too easily trivialized or too self-confidently limited in their observations. We are primates, and it's helpful sometimes to remember the role that profoundly present but overlooked instincts play.
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2022
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"The Quest for Harmony" is an exceptional essay that tries to identify the aspects of our natures that surround and sting us like deer flies and poke us away from the rationsal and wise initiative to refine our statements, finc common ground, and cooperate. There is too much said in this piece for a brief review to genuinely analyze, but there is a hint regarding the central problem of ego within humanity; ego opens up volumes of commentary too easily trivialized or too self-confidently limited in their observations. We are primates, and it's helpful sometimes to remember the role that profoundly present but overlooked instincts play.
Comment Written 27-Jun-2022
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2022
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Thanks so much, Frank. I totally agree with your comments about us being primates. There's a tendency to think we're somehow superior because we've evolved in some ways, but the primary drivers are still there - to gather, defend and dominate for security, however developed our minds become. As the saying goes, speak softly, but carry a big stick.
Mike
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I have thought for a while that there are some omitted elements in the way we understand ourselves, and how we rate that understanding we achieve as being sufficiently complete. Somethings have not been given enough weight, or perhaps treated as trivial. I think that our education system needs to more completely acquaint us with ourselves if we are to do better in the midst of this life.
Comment from Wayne Fowler
I like it - a lot. You've done your homework (or you are exceptionally knowledgeable). Great writing, too.
My theory is that testosterone is a poison, whether in men, or women. Testosterone feeds appetites for power and control and can never be satisfied with democracy. The natural end is that more is never enough. Minority rights is a direct assault. I'm a man, and I, too, love to push boundaries - our dividing fence should be on 'your' side of the line since I own all of 'my' side.
When you concluded your 'communism' paragraph, my thinking took me to the Christian 'millennial reign' where we are ruled by a benevolent dictator.
Sorry this is so long and delves into review of the content rather than the writing. It's just that your piece was so provocative.
Best wishes
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2022
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I like it - a lot. You've done your homework (or you are exceptionally knowledgeable). Great writing, too.
My theory is that testosterone is a poison, whether in men, or women. Testosterone feeds appetites for power and control and can never be satisfied with democracy. The natural end is that more is never enough. Minority rights is a direct assault. I'm a man, and I, too, love to push boundaries - our dividing fence should be on 'your' side of the line since I own all of 'my' side.
When you concluded your 'communism' paragraph, my thinking took me to the Christian 'millennial reign' where we are ruled by a benevolent dictator.
Sorry this is so long and delves into review of the content rather than the writing. It's just that your piece was so provocative.
Best wishes
Comment Written 27-Jun-2022
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2022
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Thanks so much, Wayne, for sharing your thoughts and response with me. You certainly have a point about testosterone, I think. Perhaps mass society as a while is not a natural state for humans, and smaller groups are a more suitable habitat. Of course, regardless of group size, history shows we'll find reasons to beat ine another's heads in. This is a culmination of a few thought streams I've been following recently, and this morning I finally had time to pause and write it out.
Thanks again for the great review!
Mike