Paige Feldstein

WIN.

PICK TWO:

a. adequate sleep
b. decent grades
c. social life

WELCOME TO COLLEGE.

So, today we were talking about acting in a manner that leads toward the “common good” in my philosophy class. I got into a discussion with some guy that lead me backward to the beginnings of western civilization. In beginning the agricultural revolution, in dividing labor and specializing, were we acting out a biological imperative to survive? I daresay early man wasn’t thinking about how altruistic it would be if we all just worked together to take care of each other… I think it was definitely the former. On the other hand, I’ve only got half a general liberal arts education under my belt, here, I’m no expert. Again, such are my musings today.

Then, as my professor was laughing and telling us that we had a sort of pessimistic view on the matter, I had another thought. This time, the nature of human beings was trying to sort itself out in my brain. I was thinking that the difference, the ONLY difference, between “animals” and “humans” might simply be that we are able to act altruistically. A lot of times in the “animal kingdom” it’s kill or die, fight or flight, protect my young, protect myself, thus perpetuating the species. I mean, that’s not actively rationalized, it’s just built in, if you will.

Humans are very driven by our biology. Duh, I could figure that out without being a psychology major. We have instinctual drives just like the “animals”. The difference that I see is that we as human beings are able to rationally weigh decisions and feelings in a manner that allows us to act outside of our best interest. We don’t always do it, and honestly, even when we think we are acting outside biological inclinations, we may not be. There’s always a possibility that we are unaware of our true intentions, our true motivations.

This was all tied into virtue in my class. So, I guess that means that the human faculty to strive for cardinal virtues is the difference between us and beasts.