Well written. I came across your post, just as I read a post on the historical Dutch contribution to human suffering. I am Dutch, and partly Indonesian in ancestry. I sometimes wonder how those blood lines got mixed — anticipating the violation of the colonised Indonesian female.
I think about human suffering often. Not just of the brawl of man versus man, but of the organised kind. It must not be a very original thought, but I think that those who strive for positions of power are categorically inclined toward sociopathy or psychopathy, or forms of narcissism. Such a categorical prevalence is apparently factual according to psychology, such as degrees of psychopathy being notably present in fields centered around sheer logical deduction. Who knows, this might explain the scientific comfort with animal experimentation.
But when you ask the average person on the street: _do you want human equity and world peace?_ the answer is a genuine _yes._ The everyday person is ready. But it are those who crave stations of power, those who can actually move the world, that are otherwise inclined. For them, the only way to rise is to keep another man down. Wealth can only come through another's poverty. And your life must mean the death of another.
It is as if the collective human body suffers from an autoimmume disease — a body that attacks itself. Eats itself. Destroys itself.
In these considerations, I find it important to remember this is human nature. Every creature on this world has evolved out of a hierarchy of dominance, including human beings. I am grateful we are now evolved enough to recognise the importance of moral consideration and indeed empathy. As a vegan, I went so far as to consider ethics even in diet (no, I'm not the militant type).
I feel it is important to understand this as a universal human trait, in order to prevent racial framing. When we speak of the misdeeds of this or that nation, we merely speak of where this trait is presently manifesting itself and through whom. Next time, it will be via the other party. Or a combination of both.
At the root, everything is just tribal expansion — when conflated with technology and affluence, we call it colonialism. But the heart of this mechanism is old. It is primal.
The human monkey reasons in fear, and fear is never reasonable.
I appreciate your comment and points, brother. As I’m not a scientist myself and my partner is, I’ve learned to steer clear of making scientific pronouncements related to evolution and human nature. However, I have had this conversation about narcissism, psychopathy, and sociopathy as it relates to seeking power during my online racism discussion group meetings. I hope to teach or perhaps remind people that there’s no greater power than love if we can only learn to collectively harness it. These people who sacrifice their humanity to gain power can barely be said to be living. This sacrifice of humanity is a choice, perhaps one certain personality types within a corrupt system are encouraged to make, but it’s not a given. We have the power to make different choices regardless of our proclivities and environment. My goal is to ignite that spark into a raging fire by actively and aggressively creating the conditions whereby people can lean into their chosen moral and ethical values rather than tacitly accepting the values of people who have sacrificed themselves for power. Thanks for your words and for joining me on my journey.
Hello Will — I hope I didn’t come across as suggesting everyone pertaining to the scientific community is subject to psychopathy, and thus making a statement about your beloved partner. It's just something I read — that psychopathy occurs more frequently in deductive fields, but this certainly should not imply it applies to every member.
My statements are also not scientific — I’m just a peaceful meditating man experiencing moments of insight that others should take with a grain of salt.
Brother Fullwood,
Well written. I came across your post, just as I read a post on the historical Dutch contribution to human suffering. I am Dutch, and partly Indonesian in ancestry. I sometimes wonder how those blood lines got mixed — anticipating the violation of the colonised Indonesian female.
I think about human suffering often. Not just of the brawl of man versus man, but of the organised kind. It must not be a very original thought, but I think that those who strive for positions of power are categorically inclined toward sociopathy or psychopathy, or forms of narcissism. Such a categorical prevalence is apparently factual according to psychology, such as degrees of psychopathy being notably present in fields centered around sheer logical deduction. Who knows, this might explain the scientific comfort with animal experimentation.
But when you ask the average person on the street: _do you want human equity and world peace?_ the answer is a genuine _yes._ The everyday person is ready. But it are those who crave stations of power, those who can actually move the world, that are otherwise inclined. For them, the only way to rise is to keep another man down. Wealth can only come through another's poverty. And your life must mean the death of another.
It is as if the collective human body suffers from an autoimmume disease — a body that attacks itself. Eats itself. Destroys itself.
In these considerations, I find it important to remember this is human nature. Every creature on this world has evolved out of a hierarchy of dominance, including human beings. I am grateful we are now evolved enough to recognise the importance of moral consideration and indeed empathy. As a vegan, I went so far as to consider ethics even in diet (no, I'm not the militant type).
I feel it is important to understand this as a universal human trait, in order to prevent racial framing. When we speak of the misdeeds of this or that nation, we merely speak of where this trait is presently manifesting itself and through whom. Next time, it will be via the other party. Or a combination of both.
At the root, everything is just tribal expansion — when conflated with technology and affluence, we call it colonialism. But the heart of this mechanism is old. It is primal.
The human monkey reasons in fear, and fear is never reasonable.
— If you're interested, the post on historical Dutch atrocities: https://substack.com/home/post/p-167804377
I appreciate your comment and points, brother. As I’m not a scientist myself and my partner is, I’ve learned to steer clear of making scientific pronouncements related to evolution and human nature. However, I have had this conversation about narcissism, psychopathy, and sociopathy as it relates to seeking power during my online racism discussion group meetings. I hope to teach or perhaps remind people that there’s no greater power than love if we can only learn to collectively harness it. These people who sacrifice their humanity to gain power can barely be said to be living. This sacrifice of humanity is a choice, perhaps one certain personality types within a corrupt system are encouraged to make, but it’s not a given. We have the power to make different choices regardless of our proclivities and environment. My goal is to ignite that spark into a raging fire by actively and aggressively creating the conditions whereby people can lean into their chosen moral and ethical values rather than tacitly accepting the values of people who have sacrificed themselves for power. Thanks for your words and for joining me on my journey.
Hello Will — I hope I didn’t come across as suggesting everyone pertaining to the scientific community is subject to psychopathy, and thus making a statement about your beloved partner. It's just something I read — that psychopathy occurs more frequently in deductive fields, but this certainly should not imply it applies to every member.
My statements are also not scientific — I’m just a peaceful meditating man experiencing moments of insight that others should take with a grain of salt.
No qualification needed, Komatsu. I understood you well.
Wow. There is so much history that needs to be revealed and healed. This was a tough read though needed.
I was in Fiji yesterday for a holiday. Feeling the same way, your words are exactly the same way I feel. Thank you for putting into writing.
“What I can do is bear witness to their suffering.”