CREATIVE RETIREMENT
GREAT DECISIONS II
TOPIC -- Theme of Personal Interest Club
Friday Round Table Discussion Group
n. CIVILIZATION or HUMANITY -- 0 Xxxx '09
Civilization is first reported in Europe by Neanderthal cave painting, nursing of injured and death burials with orimentation.
It is thought that he adapted these from, Cro-Magnon, (us) who brought it with him from earlier.
How did our concept of Civilization or Humanity develop? What is it? We assign traits of art, music, poetry, architecture as signs of civilization and even called the Humanities. Why?
By civilization is meant things other than technocratic inventions of agriculture, husbandry, handiwork and trade. I don't really think of the hotcy totcy fine arts as the epitome of civilization, but such trappings are taken as a sign of civilization in early man and today. I suppose I mean humanity as humaneness, empathetic, caring, kindliness, compassion, charitable, considerate, loving, helpful, thoughtfulness, sensitivity, supportive, accommodating, accepting, cooperative, warmth, tenderness, loving.
Several features have no obvious survival value in evolution -- gentleness with connotations of mild, tender, placid, soft Gentle as in gentleman/gentlewoman means not required to work, in other words the idle rich, tho allowed to meddle in politics and management of things they have no personal experience, they not being a Hispanic woman. Nor is being patient, tolerant, compliant, or long-suffering of an immediate survival character.
Altruism is don't understand, especially considering the doing good makes a person feel good about themselves,
so such acts are not selfless. Charitable I can understand because there is a chance of reaping a distant benefit.
The opposite to all this is considered cold, cruel, callas, rough, selfish, indifferent, inconsiderate, unhelpful, thoughtless, uncooperative. In other words, traditional male ruggedness.
Is there a balance in the lists we teach our children of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent? Or, to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place?
Man is an evolved animal. How evolved ? Evolved into what ? What are the characteristics of mankind ? What is his true nature and what is idealism / euphoric poetry?
A lioness is tender towards her cubs and hunts the young of other species. Soaring birds are the sublime of
poetic beauty, but peck each other to get there way or establish hierarchy. Mankind sends ships full of doctors
to help people in foreign lands, yet also sends ships full of soldier to kill people in foreign lands.
This idea of civilization and the nature of humanity is confused in my humble mind.
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About this page: Notes on a potential discussion of civilization of man and what is humanness
Created 28June2009 Sunday 9;am
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