What Age is Humanity as a Whole?

[Ana.J]

Wow, so many people voted for adolescence...Isn't that strange? I think that only children can play the games we play with our planet. Adults look at future and children live now.

 

[Quintessence]

I think that only children can play the games we play with our planet.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Can you elaborate?

 

[idav]

We have the morals and wisdom of children, maybe adolescence, with the knowledge and toys of adults. I think a reason for this is that, although our knowledge accumulates, individually we cannot usually accumulate the wisdom of ages necessary that comes mainly through experience. Thus the issues with history repeating itself and peoples insistence on learning things the hard way.

 

[Parchment]

We have the morals and wisdom of children, maybe adolescence, with the knowledge and toys of adults. I think a reason for this is that, although our knowledge accumulates, individually we cannot usually accumulate the wisdom of ages necessary that comes mainly through experience. Thus the issues with history repeating itself and peoples insistence on learning things the hard way.

Like some silver spoons together in the bin, farting around- I'm not buying it. be more persuasive in your future interactions

 

[Twilight Hue]

Other.

We're ageless.

 

[sun rise]

You asked a very interesting question which caught my attention. I voted for adolescence because humanity has left innocent childhood far behind but has not reached adulthood.

But I also think that some such as Sri Aurobindo have seen and written about the coming adult humanity. Here's an excerpt which gives me continual hope:

I saw the Omnipotent's flaming pioneers
Over the heavenly verge which turns towards life
Come crowding down the amber stairs of birth;
Forerunners of a divine multitude,
Out of the paths of the morning star they came
Into the little room of mortal life.
I saw them cross the twilight of an age,
The sun-eyed children of a marvelous dawn,
The great creators with wide brows of calm,
The massive barrier-breakers of the world
And wrestlers with destiny in her lists of will,
The laborers in the quarries of the gods,
The messengers of the Incommunicable,
The architects of immortality.
Into the fallen human sphere they came,
Faces that wore the Immortal's glory still,
Voices that communed still with the thoughts of God,
Bodies made beautiful by the spirit's light,
Carrying the magic word, the mystic fire,
Carrying the Dionysian cup of joy,
Approaching eyes of a diviner man,
Lips chanting an unknown anthem of the soul,
Feet echoing in the corridors of Time.
High priests of wisdom, sweetness, might and bliss,
Discoverers of beauty's sunlit ways
And swimmers of Love's laughing fiery floods
And dancers within rapture's golden doors,
Their tread one day shall change the suffering earth
And justify the light on Nature's face.

 

[idav]

be more persuasive in your future interactions

I didn't make an appeal to mammals because humanity was the question.

 

[gnomon]

If you were asked to characterize humanity as in its infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, or old age, how would you characterize it? Why?

I vote the question and the poll options are absolutely useless in understanding anything.

 

[Ana.J]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Can you elaborate?

I thought that people are more guided by instincts (like children) and not by reason. Take wars, for example, is that what a sane adult would start?

 

[Quintessence]

I thought that people are more guided by instincts (like children) and not by reason. Take wars, for example, is that what a sane adult would start?

Seems to me all humans are guided by instincts, and seems to me most wars are started by completely sane, rational people for rather understandable reasons. It sounds to me that you personally happen to dislike war, and would like to view it as "childish" or "irrational."

As an aside, I quite dislike it that we view "child" as an insult in this culture. This is very sad to me.

 

[Tabu]

I think there are different ages to different civilizations ,
for Indians it is old age,
for Middle east , Europe... it is middle age
for US it is childhood or adolescence.

 

[Ana.J]

Seems to me all humans are guided by instincts, and seems to me most wars are started by completely sane, rational people for rather understandable reasons. It sounds to me that you personally happen to dislike war, and would like to view it as "childish" or "irrational."

As an aside, I quite dislike it that we view "child" as an insult in this culture. This is very sad to me.

I do not view child as an insult. Children are pure and honest in what they do. However, I view humanity as immature, selfish and mercyless in its actions.

 

[Quintessence]

I do not view child as an insult. Children are pure and honest in what they do. However, I view humanity as immature, selfish and mercyless in its actions.

Hmm. Certainly not my day-to-day experience of human persons. If it was, I would either get myself out of such deplorable social circles or off myself. Though the sort of place you describe sounds like a war zone or a gang fight zone, so there is a good chance someone would off me if I lived in a place where the majority was immature, selfish, and merciless.

 

[Nous]

It's a mistake to believe that species go through phases of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age that an individual does. Such an idea might make an interesting metaphor, but it cannot be literal. The beauty of metaphors, similes and analogies is that they are our creations and do not reflect reality like mirrors. (Note the simile about similies.)

 

[Ana.J]

Hmm. Certainly not my day-to-day experience of human persons. If it was, I would either get myself out of such deplorable social circles or off myself. Though the sort of place you describe sounds like a war zone or a gang fight zone, so there is a good chance someone would off me if I lived in a place where the majority was immature, selfish, and merciless.

Well, there is war in my country (eastern part of Ukraine) and I do think that too many young boys have already given their lives for nothing.

 

[Quintessence]

Well, there is war in my country (eastern part of Ukraine) and I do think that too many young boys have already given their lives for nothing.

Yeah, I'd be more likely to share your attitude too if I was living where you are. I know that I am pretty spoiled here in the Midwestern United States.