Peace

[The Hammer]

Is peace (n. a state of tranquility or quiet) an inherent human norm? Our normal state of living and being?


If we take away the trappings of civilization and society at large. Would we be content with living and letting live such that "... even though neighbouring states can see one another
and hear each other’s chickens and dogs,
the people, until they die of old age,
won’t come and go between them." - Daodejing 80?

Or must strife always be there?

We may toil and struggle for survival, but does that have to be at the expense of peace?

 

[The Hammer]

Or is it.. Only Human?

 

[Jimmy]

A lot of people that toil feel entitled. Like the world owes them something. Hopefully one can find peace of mind whether they’re “toiling” or not.

 

[The Hammer]

A lot of people that toil feel entitled.

Maybe in first world countries?

But as a whole all of humanity has to toil to survive.

By that, I just mean that we have to provide for ourselves by whatever means are available to us.

Any thoughts on the first half of my OP?

 

[Jimmy]

Maybe in first world countries?

But as a whole all of humanity has to toil to survive.

By that, I just mean that we have to provide for ourselves by whatever means are available to us.

Any thoughts on the first half of my OP?

Oh I’m sure they feel just as entitled in third world countries.

Yes, I think internal peace is essential to one’s well-being.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Is peace (n. a state of tranquility or quiet) an inherent human norm? Our normal state of living and being?


If we take away the trappings of civilization and society at large. Would we be content with living and letting live such that "... even though neighbouring states can see one another

and hear each other’s chickens and dogs,

the people, until they die of old age,

won’t come and go between them." - Daodejing 80?


Or must strife always be there? We may toil and struggle for survival, but does that have to be at the expense of peace?

I look at it like I look at the weather. There are days where it storms like hell, and others where it's calm and placid.

I just see it and respect it as the way nature works.

 

[The Hammer]

I look at it like I look at the weather. There are days where it storms like hell, and others where it's calm and placid.

I just see it and respect it as the way nature works.

That is why I mentioned the struggle for survival always being a thing that stays. We all have to live. But does this have to be at the expense of others?

 

[blü 2]

Is peace (n. a state of tranquility or quiet) an inherent human norm? Our normal state of living and being?

There aren't many times in history when there wasn't a war going on somewhere. You might be after other people's lands, or you're short of slaves, or their gold would come in handy or the famine or the drought or the plague requires action or diversion.

Maybe the price of peace is eternal vigilance and an ideal of social justice for all the tribes, not just your own.

Though, in politics, the right is more about an exclusive view of ME and the left is more about a general view of US (to oversimplify, of course, but along those lines).

So peace some of the time is normal, and peace all of the time is not, though some decent people are always working on it.

 

[Augustus]

Is peace (n. a state of tranquility or quiet) an inherent human norm? Our normal state of living and being?


If we take away the trappings of civilization and society at large. Would we be content with living and letting live such that "... even though neighbouring states can see one another
and hear each other’s chickens and dogs,
the people, until they die of old age,
won’t come and go between them." - Daodejing 80?

Or must strife always be there?

We may toil and struggle for survival, but does that have to be at the expense of peace?

Social primates who compete for resources, mates and so forth will always be prone to conflict.

We don't expect chimps to transcend their nature, yet we are no more capable of transcendence.

We are just cursed with the conceit that things could be other than they are. Other species (as far as we know at least) don't have to live the temptation that there is a better way that is just out of our reach, and if only we grew just a little bit more we could grasp it. Yet as we think we grow a little, the object of our desire also moves just a little bit further away.

Thus it always shall be.

 

[Heyo]

Is peace (n. a state of tranquility or quiet) an inherent human norm? Our normal state of living and being?


If we take away the trappings of civilization and society at large. Would we be content with living and letting live such that "... even though neighbouring states can see one another
and hear each other’s chickens and dogs,
the people, until they die of old age,
won’t come and go between them." - Daodejing 80?

Or must strife always be there?

By nature, we are discontent. Our bodies burn energy and we have to eat. Hunger is discontent.
We also have the ability to imagine the future. Even if we aren't hungry, and have food in storage, we can imagine the food to run out. We prepare for possible discontent.
That discontent fuels progress. Some people invent technology that prepares for possible discontent. Some people form groups that fight possible discontent together.
And then there are the psychopaths and sociopaths who see a solution in taking resources from other people. They are few, but the majority isn't wise and aggressive enough to stop them. Their main tool is fear. They tell us that others are wanting to rob us of our resources and that we have to go to war to prevent it.
If we want peace, we need to overcome our fear, and we need to stop the psychopaths as early as possible.

 

[Twilight Hue]

That is why I mentioned the struggle for survival always being a thing that stays. We all have to live. But does this have to be at the expense of others?

I guess that all depends on how one defines "others". I find it personally hard to live at the expense of innocents , human and animal, so I can always do my part in minimizing that, but those not so innocent? It's considerably easier to forgo that expense , particularly if it interferes with my own survival and general welfare involving the welfare of people and things that I care about.

I just see it as an aspect of humanity and nature in general which is where my favorite indigenous saying comes from by which it is not you who owns the land, but it is the land that owns you.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Social primates who compete for resources, mates and so forth will always be prone to conflict.

We don't expect chimps to transcend their nature, yet we are no more capable of transcendence.

We are just cursed with the conceit that things could be other than they are. Other species (as far as we know at least) don't have to live the temptation that there is a better way that is just out of our reach, and if only we grew just a little bit more we could grasp it. Yet as we think we grow a little, the object of our desire also moves just a little bit further away.

Thus it always shall be.

Until the 'peaceful' chip is implanted in all at birth, or even so by genetic means? A recommendation from future AI perhaps.

 

[The Hammer]

We don't expect chimps to transcend their nature, yet we are no more capable of transcendence.

What about the Bonobo? The ape that's a lover not a fighter that is also genetically close to us. That is as much our nature too.

 

[Spice]

 

[Spice]

 

[Augustus]

What about the Bonobo? The ape that's a lover not a fighter that is also genetically close to us. That is as much our nature too.

Unfortunately bonobos are violent too and are rewarded for their aggression

Bonobos are more aggressive than previously thought, study shows​

Chimpanzees and bonobos are often thought to reflect two different sides of human nature -- the conflict-ready chimpanzee versus the peaceful bonobo -- but a new study shows that, within their own communities, male bonobos are more frequently aggressive than male chimpanzees. For both species, more aggressive males had more mating opportunities.

Bonobos are more aggressive than previously thought, study shows

Chimpanzees and bonobos are often thought to reflect two different sides of human nature -- the conflict-ready chimpanzee versus the peaceful bonobo -- but a new study shows that, within their own communities, male bonobos are more frequently aggressive than male chimpanzees. For both species...

www.sciencedaily.com