On 3 June, 16:58, DarkwaterBlight <[email protected]> wrote: > Unfourtunately, my friend, society does not see itself as family > anymore. >
Sad, but true. We should be reminded, then, that we are, indeed, all related. Our DNA serves as conclusive evidence of that. On the other side of the coin, though, is the equally sad fact that nothing lives but by the death of something else. Whether or not that 'something else' is animal or vegetable or fungus or bacteria or virus matters not, each form of life preys on other forms and derives its sustenance from the death of other forms of life. One may argue that plants derive their nutrition from the 'dead' soil; however, that disregards the fact that the nutrients IN the soil are only there because something died there and it rotted and left those nutrients there to be absobed by the plant. Life comes as a result of death and death comes as a result of life. And there is a lesson there for those who are wise. > On May 29, 3:30 am, Spade <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > How can a species that evolved due to it's social structure subscribe > > to a thesis that states that humans are slave of self interest .Adam > > Smith and the sovereign consumer started this all, this was a gross > > simplification as human families certianly do not behave in the > > fashion predicted by the economic thinker .Human evelition took place > > because the institution of fa,ily evolved , the human female underwent > > an extra ordinary transformation which gave her all year conception > > capability and to cater to the evolving human race broadened her hips > > to allow babies of bigger heads and consequently brains to be > > evolved , this came at a cost and the female became less mobile , > > which meant that e male had to hunt , thereby a division of > > responsibilities occurred . The family evolved into larger social > > groups and hence economics was born humans could specialize in one > > aspect and trade the fruits of their toils with others .The concept > > of family, like that of language is inbuilt in human brain and human > > thinking and decision making considers the welfarE of the individual > > and the group . > > > On May 22, 1:48 am, 1CellOfMany <[email protected]> wrote:se > > > > Here is a different perspective on Prosperity. The article below was > > > copied from the Baha'i News Service:http://news.bahai.org/story/770 > > > > A new statement challenging the common assumption that human beings > > > are slaves to self-interest and consumerism has been issued by the > > > Baha'i International Community. > > > > A more profound look at human nature would reveal the ability to > > > respond to a higher calling, suggests the document – issued this week > > > for the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development as it > > > began its annual two-week session. > > > > "The culture of consumerism ... has tended to reduce human beings to > > > competitive, insatiable consumers of goods and to objects of > > > manipulation by the market," it says. > > > > In fact, "the human experience is essentially spiritual in nature: it > > > is rooted in the inner reality – or what some call the 'soul' – that > > > we all share in common," it states. > > > > The document, titled "Rethinking Prosperity: Forging Alternatives to a > > > Culture of Consumerism," challenges the view that there is an > > > intractable conflict between what people want – which supposedly is to > > > consume more – and what humanity needs. > > > > "Much of economic and psychological theory depicts human beings as > > > slaves to self-interest," it says. "The faculties needed to construct > > > a more just and sustainable social order – moderation, justice, love, > > > reason, sacrifice and service to the common good – have too often been > > > dismissed as naive ideals. Yet, it is these and related qualities that > > > must be harnessed. ..." > > > > Peter Adriance, a member of the Baha'i International Community's > > > delegation to the Commission, said the statement is a contribution to > > > a dialogue on the development of a 10-year framework to encourage new > > > programs that advance sustainable consumption and production. > > > > "The document deals with the issue of consumerism by reflecting on the > > > question of what is human nature," he said. "We must look at who we > > > are and what our purpose in life is. > > > > "The transition to sustainable consumption and production is one of > > > the great challenges of our times, and to achieve it will require a > > > transformation in both thought and action. The cultural forces at play > > > are powerful and demand re-examination if we are to move forward," he > > > said. > > > > The statement can be read > > > athttp://bic.org/statements-and-reports/bic-statements/10-0503.htm.-Hide > > > quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
