4 ms·
There was a story recently about a real-life event that started out a lot like the scenario in Lord of the Flies, i. e. a group of children stranded on an islan
by IfOnlyYouKnew 6y ago
There was a story recently about a real-life event that started out a lot like the scenario in Lord of the Flies, i. e. a group of children stranded on an island.
It turns out their society started looking after their weakest and made decisions based on consent.
Meanwhile, the book just confirms everyone's beliefs not only about children but mankind itself, namely of a Hobbesian/Darwinian/Randian rule-of-the-strongest being the natural state of affairs.
- wussboy 6y agoI think Hobbes and Darwin would both object to being grouped in with Rand. Hobbes would say the world is violent therefore we should take measures to protect ourselves (with a neutral external force or Leviathan). Darwin would say that ruthless competition has driven genetic change, but would never say that this ruthless competition was intrinsically good or should be encouraged. Rand, on the other hand, showed casual disregard for human suffering and would glorify in winner take all competition (even though that’s not how societies best organize themselves nor how evolution plays out in the real world where cooperation is usually a winning strategy)
- svara 6y ago"Competition" in the Darwinian context is often understood in a too narrow way anyway. Organisms can become more fit by carving out a specialized niche for themselves where they don't have to compete. Or by becoming more cooperative as a species. The association with ruthless domination of others can be misleading.