Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site x.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxj!mhuxr!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!frog!x!john From: john@x.UUCP (John Woods) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion,net.flame Subject: Re: A Question! Message-ID: <414@x.UUCP> Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 16:27:48 EST Article-I.D.: x.414 Posted: Thu Feb 28 16:27:48 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 04:20:44 EST References: <776@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA Lines: 32 Xref: watmath net.politics:7907 net.religion:5825 net.flame:8645 > A person who, not so long ago was the idol of millions poised a question > that I would like someone to answer please. > "Why shouldn't human beings be as cruel as nature is?" > - Adolf Hitler > Anyone want to try and explain it. Of course we know religion is bosh and > unscientific and unrational so can the Uzibsmo says stuff. I mean just > why should humans be DIFFERENT than other things in nature? > Regards, > Ken Arndt Having accidentally missed the 'n' key on Arndt's article, I found it uniquely worth answering. How about: Human beings appear to uniquely have a choice in the matter (you don't see wombats sitting in French cafe's drinking espresso and debating philosophy, do you?). Choosing to strive to build generates pleasure in many humans (a simple, animalistic maximization function that even Ken can appreciate:-). Further, evolutionary pressure would seem to discourage mindless cruelty, as humans seem to have accumulated an excess of members who would rather not be mindlessly cruel, to the point where they will fight bloody battles to stop those who are. Further discussion of this ought to go to net.philosophy, because it might just turn out to be interesting. However, since this is net.flame, I guess I must say something unreasonable. How about: I have to remember to fix rnews to discard Arndt articles. Has anyone done this yet, in case I am re-inventing the wheel (:-)? -- John Woods, Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA, (617) 626-1101 ...!decvax!frog!john, ...!mit-eddie!jfw, jfw%mit-ccc@MIT-XX.ARPA Sorry, I don't feel deep right now.