I've been around for a long time, and one thing never changes: mankind is violent and cruel. There are no good people. If hell exists, we are all going there. But look on the bright side: those people who have wronged you, tried to kill you, tried to kill me--they're going to be comrades in suffering when we join them. It will be a pleasant reunion. Assuming hell exists.
I disagree. I believe that people, well...most people...are genuinely good and strive to do good.
For example, not all criminals commit crime because they are inherently "bad" or have become "bad". They commit crime for other reasons such as peer pressure or trying to feed themselves their family.
Mankind is not violent and cruel. You might be surprised how much good you can find if you just look.
The very need for law is strong evidence for man's evilness.
Also, you cannot really determine human nature based upon the constructs of society (law, and therefore crime). We construct laws to punish what we don't like, an act of selfishness, and we generally intend them to affect a distinct minority, an immoral act.
Also, almost everyone is good when they think someone is watching.
Well that is a fairly pessimistic viewpoint...something I refuse to believe. Although I will agree that yes, there are people out there who will do bad if they think they can get away with it...hence the need for laws.
War. War never changes.
- Fallout Series
So long as wars continues to be profitable (and it is very profitable) then there will always be wars.
However war isn't necessarily bad, in fact the base product of men killing other men helps to reduce the planets surplus population. So there are definite clear benefits to war right from the start.
War also improves the economy, encourages the everyman to buy more and save less, which is always a good thing. Not to mention that all those munitions factories help to reduce the unemployment rate.
War also increases the need for security to the point where people would willingly trade their liberties for a little security for themselves and their loved ones. Another plus.
Then there is the land that is (usually but not always) acquired after a successful war, and with land comes resources, which will bring the nation and it's share holders much wealth.
War (or even just the threat of it) is a great distraction from a nations current problems, or if it wants to pass new and questionable laws without too much public attention.
I'm not all that happy with this analogy but I suppose most of you will get the Portal reference, so. War is like cake, you get out of it what you put into it. And like certain cakes it can often be misleading, if not an outright lie.
Of course I'm not really saying anything new that hasn't already been said, it's fairly common knowledge nowadays that there is a lot to be gained from war, however no one mentioned it in this discussion so...
On the topic of Good Vs. Evil, I'm of the opinion that most people are self serving and have a tendency to do foolish things, I do however believe that Rousseau Was Right Link.
Though do bear in mind that I am a Wide Eyed Idealist Link who lives in a Sugar Bowl Link, so my take on life and the human race as a whole may be somewhat obscured...
What is this I don't even