the question of alleged human "superiority"

Discussion in 'General Science & Technology' started by parmalee, Jul 19, 2009.

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  1. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Superior in general ? I don't know what that means..
    There have to be ground rules and no biases.
     
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  3. ripleofdeath Registered Senior Member

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    the shark may be superior.
    most earth covered by water
    predominant predator superior to all others etc et cetterrar

    sharks have been around a lot longer than humans.
     
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  5. Varda The Bug Lady Valued Senior Member

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    What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in
    Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing
    how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an Angel?
    in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the
    world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is
    this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no,
    nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme
    to say so
     
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  7. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    Que sais-je?
     
  8. Varda The Bug Lady Valued Senior Member

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    Y'are a fishmonger.
     
  9. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    Wake your reason's hollow vote
    Wear your blizzard season coat
    Burn a bridge and burn a boat
    Stake a Lizard by the throat. ...?
     
  10. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Are you talking about Riple ?
     
  11. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    perhaps ...





    but actually, no.
     
  12. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Are you quite sure ?

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  13. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    I was talking about this guy (albeit a more ancient and elegant one):

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  14. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    lol I'm confused..
     
  15. takethewarhome midnatt klarhet Registered Senior Member

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  16. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    Alright.

    In post #83, Varda cites a quote from Hamlet in which Hamlet expresses skepticism over the alleged divine superiority of Man.

    In post #84, I respond with Montaigne's "What do I know?" Shakespeare was informed by Montaigne's skepticism, as reflected particularly in Hamlet.

    In post #85, Varda maliciously attacks me by calling me a fishmonger! But seriously, Hamlet calls Polonius a fishmonger 'cuz he pimped out one of his bitches and hoes.

    In post #86, I respond with a line from King Crimson's "Lizard." The next line sung masterfully by special guest Jon Anderson is "Go Polonius or kneel."

    Finally, a fishmonger is a pimp. I hope I don't need to explain that one.
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2009
  17. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Ah, thanks lol
    And yep, it's a good thing you explained that fishmonger means pimp. Didn't know that

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  18. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    I was actually referring to not wanting to explain why fishmonger means pimp! I try to avoid that sort of, ummm, biological discussion.

    Anyways, returning to the topic:

    The sort of "survival" which Norsefire alludes to reminds me too much of the rationales some people make for pre-emptive war (wage war in order to prevent war?!) or the argument that many people make that owning a car (I'm a lifelong bicyclist--the only car I've ever owned, I lived in) somehow "saves time"--in the U.S., a car owner who makes minimum wage must work somewhere between 15 and 30 hours a week just in order to pay for that car (and all of the costs it entails); whereas I work considerably less simply because I don't need to. See this page for analysis: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/advocacy/autocost.htm Of course most people I know make considerably more than minimum wages, and a lot of them drive old, cheap cars; but still, they must work a good deal more than I do to pay for that car.

    The sort of "survival" which Norsefire discusses often entail methods which ultimately work against us:

    You're forgetting one particular danger: the human enemy. People must work ridiculously long hours in order to pay for--and manufacture or effect--useless crap, like the Defense Department. And why do we need the Defense Department? Because other people get pissed off when we take their stuff (too many countries to name) or when we exploit them (again, too many countries). We "need" obscene amounts of oil in order to live, ummm, luxuriously (?) and we "need" cheap and readily available electronics, toys, clothing, etc. to add to our stockpiles and landfills. And then the people from whom we get them get pissed off, so we must pacify them in some manner or exterminate them if things get too out of hand--and all this comes at tremendous cost.

    And of course, we are already doing this; consequently, we must effect measures to counter this--again, at tremendous cost.

    People work long and hard so that they can "live well," make it to the age of 100, and one-up everyone else--but then what do they do? Bitch and complain about being tired and not having any time; live in fear of sickness, violence, war, etc.; and despair over the fact that all of their "advances" and "progress" inevitably entail the creation of a whole new set of complications and obstacles. "Survival" in the sense of having all planned out and being overly-prepared ain't all it's cracked up to be.

    — Walt Whitman
     
  19. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Oh umm.. I don't know what the word 'monger' means. I guess I'll look it up then

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    Edit: Ok, I get it.. lol
     
  20. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    The fish part is key to understanding the meaning. Perhaps that expression isn't used in the Netherlands (you're from the Netherlands, right? Or am I way off on that one?)? Think: olfactory.
     
  21. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    I get it already.. lol

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  22. parmalee peripatetic artisan Valued Senior Member

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    Was I correct about you being from the Netherlands? If so, which city?
     
  23. Enmos Valued Senior Member

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    Yep

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    I live in Lelystad, The Netherlands.
    How did you know ? Read it somewhere ?
     
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