I have a few questions for readers who feel they can share unique perspectives. I usually try to provide answers, but these are things that I’ve been wondering for a long time, without coming to any meaningful conclusions. Philosophy should be a conversation, and hopefully, these questions inspire some.
Question 1:
The theory of evolution is the Darwinist theory that all life came from the sea, and has been evolving for millions of years to become what it is today, including humans.
My question is this: If you believe that humans evolved in the same ways as other creatures (In this case meaning without divine intervention) and natural selection selects for traits that will continue the existence of the species, why did we evolve sentience? I.e. why did we gain the ability to create nuclear weapons, burn holes in the ozone layer, melt the ice caps, and destroy the very planet that sustains us?
I want to make it clear: I do believe creatures mutate, and that sometimes these mutations are beneficial, this is called evolution. I do not deny that evolution occurs. But, I wonder why a random mutation would result in the ability to destroy on the scale that we can and have, let alone the ability to blog.
Question 2:
I think the default political state, or the political leaning that humans are born into, is conservatism, and conservatism is the state that most people return to later in life, due to any number of factors.
If we could ask a baby what its political views are, (and could communicate sufficiently to understand the answer) we would see them as conservative. If we could thaw a caveman out of ice and catch him up to speed, his political beliefs (or lack thereof) would seem, to us, conservative.
As children, we don’t understand that things are wrong with the world or want to change them until we’re older. Some things do need to change, while others are better off staying the same.
Maybe you lean left in adolescence, but eventually, get tired of the constant forward momentum. This could explain why conservatism is popular among people of graduated age, who grow comfortable with how things are.
After all, progressivism is a lifelong game, an ever-evolving play. New rules, new lines, and new actors every day. What’s progressive today is conservative tomorrow. I can’t blame anyone for bowing out.
A few questions, then:
- Do you agree? Please share any opposing viewpoints.
- What are the implications of living in a system that favors one side in this way? (Most public office and decision-making positions are held by older and “more experienced” people, who tend to be conservative, we’ll come back to this)
- What can we do to get more young people into these positions?
Question 3:
Is it possible to be racist against white people? I understand that not everybody is on the same page regarding the answer to this question. The key to unlocking the answer lies in how we define racism. I would define racism as discrimination against a person or group based on race or ethnicity, with no exceptions and no leeway.
How does someone who believes white people cannot be discriminated against define racism?