Philosophical discussion prompt

[Othermoose]

So I'm basically doing this because I bit off more than I can chew for my philosophy class. We need to have a stance on a controversial issue, then we have to argue and defend it. That's where you come in wonderful readers. I'd like to hear why you think I'm right or why you think I'm wrong. I'm not asking anyone to write my paper for me, I'd just appreciate a second opinion. So with that, here is my position:



The human species should allow itself to go extinct because it is a plague to the Earth.



My professor did want controversial...
So tell me what you think. Am I crazy (probably) or am I onto something?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Your's is a proposition an 18 year old likes.

 

[slippedhalo]

I think there's an opposite argument stating that throughout history people have been predicting/wishing for an end for humanity yet the human spirit endures. We keep surprising oursrlves with potential for adaptation, including the adaptation to be humane. As horrific as we are, we also have an amazing amount of good in us too. For every Hitler there's a Ghandi, for every asshole hick spouting hateful rhetoric there's a Malala Y. There's ISIS terrorists but then there's Doctors Without Borders and World Wildlife Federation. For every puppy kicker there's ten animal rescue organizations... Given the potential for beauty, adaptation, and compassion in humans, losing hope in our ability to learn and make some right out of our wrongs just yet seems premature. We always overcome our own faults with enough inducement to make change.

 

[Othermoose]

Your's is a proposition an 18 year old likes.

Well I am 18 so...

 

[warrior queen]

It has always been my understanding that Philosophy is a fall-back subject because you can't fail.

 

[slippedhalo]

Having seen both good and bad in the world in my 36 years...I don't feel it's hopeless just yet. Easy? No. But, life wasn't promised to be easy. 18 year olds want to quit because it looks overwhelmingly hard. But, if you take your corner of the world, your little circle, and improve that, if even six of ten people all tried, we'd make progress. Someone once said, "Be tge change you wish to see in the world." That id what I've learned that makes it essier to imagine a future.

 

[Othermoose]

I think there's an opposite argument stating that throughout history people have been predicting/wishing for an end for humanity yet the human spirit endures. We keep surprising oursrlves with potential for adaptation, including the adaptation to be humane. As horrific as we are, we also have an amazing amount of good in us too. For every Hitler there's a Ghandi, for every asshole hick spouting hateful rhetoric there's a Malala Y. There's ISIS terrorists but then there's Doctors Without Borders and World Wildlife Federation. For every puppy kicker there's ten animal rescue organizations... Given the potential for beauty, adaptation, and compassion in humans, losing hope in our ability to learn and make some right out of our wrongs just yet seems premature. We always overcome our own faults with enough inducement to make change.

That all makes sense, but I think for the most part people are too lazy to do great good. There are really great people, but for the most part people only look out for themselves. Overall we're selfish and greedy, and that lack of caring allows evil to out weigh good. What's the quote? Evil happens when good men do nothing? That's basically it. But I think it's true.

 

[slippedhalo]

That all makes sense, but I think for the most part people are too lazy to do great good. There are really great people, but for the most part people only look out for themselves. Overall we're selfish and greedy, and that lack of caring allows evil to out weigh good. What's the quote? Evil happens when good men do nothing? That's basically it. But I think it's true.

The implication of the quote you used is to DO something. Each person doing their own bit of good actually outweighs the selfish, bad ones. I've seen it work. Sometimes surviving and fighting negative impulses is even enough to tilt the balance toward good.

 

[parodyluvr75]

Gut ist der Schlaf,
der Tod ist besser - freilich
Das beste wäre, nie geboren sein.

Heine

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Having seen both good and bad in the world in my 36 years...I don't feel it's hopeless just yet. Easy? No. But, life wasn't promised to be easy. 18 year olds want to quit because it looks overwhelmingly hard. But, if you take your corner of the world, your little circle, and improve that, if even six of ten people all tried, we'd make progress. Someone once said, "Be tge change you wish to see in the world." That id what I've learned that makes it essier to imagine a future.

36 going on 19.

The cure for you are real problems.

 

[Othermoose]

36 going on 19.

The cure for you are real problems.

If you're not going to contribute please don't post here.

 

[slippedhalo]

Warrior Queen, anti-intellectuals are what's wrong with much of the world today. Without philosophy we have no deep thinkers encouraged to solve today's issues. Trolling makes you look sadly out of depth. If you have nothing to contribute to the conversation don't join in.

 

[Aella_]

I suspect that the OP is older than that, and that he had either flaming or a more constructive debate in mind when he started this thread.

But in -the unlikely, imo- case that the OP is a 20ish something student: I am a bit unclear:
- why would this subject be so controversial? I thought that almost everyone agreed that people have done some pretty bad things to Earth aka they enslaved most other mammals, caused climate change etc.
- I am also unclear where the OP is aiming at with "the human species should allow itself to become extinct."

 

[slippedhalo]

36 going on 19.

The cure for you are real problems.

Dude, you have no fucking concept of real problems. And, I don't need to drag out my life's dramas to meet your petty idea of quota. I have seen and lived stuff you'd have nightmares about. Don't fuck with the queen, son. Sit down and pay attention or go elsewhere if you have no actual contribution to civilized discussion, child.

 

[Othermoose]

I suspect that the OP is older than that, and that he had either flaming or a more constructive debate in mind when he started this thread.

But in -the unlikely, imo- case that the OP is a 20ish something student: I am a bit unclear:
- why would this subject be so controversial? I thought that almost everyone agreed that people have done some pretty bad things to Earth aka they enslaved most other mammals, caused climate change etc.
- I am also unclear where the OP is aiming at with "the human species should allow itself to become extinct."

Nope. I really am 18 and in college. And I think it's controversial because most people like being alive. As for allowing ourselves to become extinct I meant stop having children until we die out.

 

[slippedhalo]

I suspect that the OP is older than that, and that he had either flaming or a more constructive debate in mind when he started this thread.

But in -the unlikely, imo- case that the OP is a 20ish something student: I am a bit unclear:
- why would this subject be so controversial? I thought that almost everyone agreed that people have done some pretty bad things to Earth aka they enslaved most other mammals, caused climate change etc.
- I am also unclear where the OP is aiming at with "the human species should allow itself to become extinct."

Knowing him personally I know he's actually trying to engage us in real discussion so he can have something constructive for his class.

And, the aim was ambitious. A distressed person trying to justify the feeling the world's problems can sometimes overwhelm us all with by finding the ultimate solution via consensus. But, the beauty of the human species is also annoying: we all have different points of view so on something so huge as the idea of an end to our species there will probably never be a consensus. Some naturally despair, some naturally hope. Both are valid.

 

[Recidiva]

We are social and judgmental creatures.

The idea that we're going to go extinct is a fear, so it's easily played upon. There's no evidence supporting extinction, in fact we have population growth and less war than previous, we have also overcome several social and ecological crises and we are working on overcoming more.

Not perfect, but not that vile.

Humanity: Story telling animals who do not like to be bored. Social creatures who take a certain level of cooperation so much for granted that only the negatives are seen by some. A species who has developed to include their own predators in the gene pool, supporting further Darwinian growth of the herd by providing competition.

Irony points for discussing extinction on a multi-cooperation format with people from potentially all over the world, likely from somewhere air conditioned while obtaining an education.

Your evidence to support extinction other than it sounds dire and attention-grabbing?

 

[slippedhalo]

We are social and judgmental creatures.

The idea that we're going to go extinct is a fear, so it's easily played upon. There's no evidence supporting extinction, in fact we have population growth and less war than previous, we have also overcome several social and ecological crises and we are working on overcoming more.

Not perfect, but not that vile.

Humanity: Story telling animals who do not like to be bored. Social creatures who take a certain level of cooperation so much for granted that only the negatives are seen by some. A species who has developed to include their own predators in the gene pool, supporting further Darwinian growth of the herd by providing competition.

Irony points for discussing extinction on a multi-cooperation format with people from potentially all over the world, likely from somewhere air conditioned while obtaining an education.

Your evidence to support extinction other than it sounds dire and attention-grabbing?

I like your style. Interesting analysis. I agree.

 

[Aella_]

Nope. I really am 18 and in college. And I think it's controversial because most people like being alive. As for allowing ourselves to become extinct I meant stop having children until we die out.

Good then.
But I was wondering: shouldn't you be a bit more explicit in your opening phrase/thesis?
Aka put a pro (ie would our extinction lead to survival of other species + the Earth etc.) and cons part to it (what would our planet lose if we were to go extinct) etc.?

Because, when I initially read your thread title, I found it to be slightly simplistic (which might explain some of the initial tongue-in-cheek comments). But after reading your subsequent posts, I realised that what you actually had in mind, was, in fact, pretty sophisticated.

 

[Recidiva]

I like your style. Interesting analysis. I agree.

*philosophical fist bump*

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Harold's Purple Crayon proves that we will never go extinct.



You have to be able to read between the lines to fully comprehend its significance.

 

[Aella_]

Harold's Purple Crayon proves that we will never go extinct.



You have to be able to read between the lines to fully comprehend its significance.

?
is this intended as a pun directed at a Lit user or is it a ph. concept?

EDIT
never mind. I just checked it online and I see that it's a children's book

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Warrior Queen, anti-intellectuals are what's wrong with much of the world today. Without philosophy we have no deep thinkers encouraged to solve today's issues. Trolling makes you look sadly out of depth. If you have nothing to contribute to the conversation don't join in.

No, it is actually intellectual nihilism from the Kantian Fountainhead and belief that intellectuals through socialism and control of business and individual that human nature can be abrogated and society perfected, but as to date has always ended very badly. But as it was in the turn of the century in Vienna, man marveled at his technological advancements, proclaimed society "evolved" and that this time the experiment would work. It engineered economic collapse, gave rise to National Socialism and ended up with Jews being herded into gas chambers. And, we see the same pattern being repeated today. It is the Intellectuals who are the actual crime against humanity and its chief danger. Well, the "lesser" intellectuals. The true intellectual is sated by his work...

The Ordeal of Change, Eric Hoffer
The Ominous Parallels, Leonard Peikoff

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

?
is this intended as a pun directed at a Lit user or is it a ph. concept?

EDIT
never mind. I just checked it online and I see that it's a children's book

Do not dismiss the hope for our future and salvation.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5xMBflnJqY

 

[Lancecastor]

I liked the bit where the university kid said " and by extinction i mean everyone stops having kids "

Hilarious!