War is a Paradox!

Discussion in 'General Philosophy' started by pharaohmoan, Jun 10, 2008.

  1. pharaohmoan The illusion is you, let go. Registered Senior Member

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    War is a Paradox! Care to discuss anyone?

    My view is that it is the eppicentre of an arguement, need or conflict all of which has a likely outcome.
     
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  3. Prince_James Plutarch (Mickey's Dog) Registered Senior Member

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    ...How precisely is war paradoxical?
     
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  5. Read-Only Valued Senior Member

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    What a ridiculous statement!

    It does fail many times, but the other times the aggressor gets exactly what they wanted in the first place - the gain of natural resources or release from an oppressive government.
     
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  7. tim840 Registered Senior Member

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    I still don't understand how war is a paradox? What on earth is paradoxical about it?
     
  8. Crunchy Cat F-in' *meow* baby!!! Valued Senior Member

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    Reality doesn't support paradoxes so your assertion is incorrect right of the bat; however, feel free to demonstrate otherwise.
     
  9. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    Of course there are paradoxes in war. Consider this quote by Robert E Lee:
    "It is well that war is so terrible--we should grow too fond of it"
    At some level, as General Lee said, we all love war. Why do we follow sports and cheer when the lineman crushes the opposing quarterback? Why does a crowd immediately form when a fight breaks out? Why do we go see Rambo or The Terminator or Dirty Harry?

    Yet, on the other hand, war causes massive suffering and death. It causes famines, rape, torture, genocide. Damned near every bad thing you can think of happens during war.

    Still, war is often also the time we see amazing acts of heroism. Of self sacrifice. Men jumping on grenades to save their buddies. Injured men carrying other injured men for miles.

    And it's also true that scientific progress often progresses at a breakneck pace during war. Of course, knowledge is often lost during wars (the burning of the library at Alexandria, for example).

    So we hate war, yet we love war. It often inspires acts or heroism and greatness; as well as cowardess and depravity.
     
  10. Crunchy Cat F-in' *meow* baby!!! Valued Senior Member

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    What's the paradox?
     
  11. redarmy11 Registered Senior Member

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    Because it's rare for this to result in serious, career-ending injury? Our attitude usually changes to one of sympathy when it does - regardless of whose team they're on.
    Well, we all love a bit of drama. How many would stay watching if they drew guns and started shooting at each other?[/quote]
    Because most of us can distinguish fiction from reality?

    There are many impetuses to war. You're not seriously suggesting that one of them is that we actually enjoy it?
     
  12. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    Why do people go to car races like the Indy 500? For the wrecks, that's why. Sure, we're simpathetic if the guy is hurt or killed, but that doesn't quell the bloodlust when the event is happening.
    Well, with guns you'd be worried about getting shot yourself. But I doubt the crowd would scatter due to the combatents drawing knives.
    Yes, I am. We hate it, but most of us have a beast in us that loves violence.

    The Romans kept the masses entertained with bread and circuses. What were the circuses? Battles to the death. We don't require our "gladiators" to actually die anymore because we have such great special effects. We get the blood and gore we thirst for, yet no one is hurt! But don't think that means we don't enjoy violence.
     
  13. pjdude1219 The biscuit has risen Valued Senior Member

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    humans are violent on some level we all enjoy the spilling of blood.
     
  14. tim840 Registered Senior Member

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    People are inexplicably drawn to conflict. That doesn't mean people enjoy it. But it's exciting. I mean, who would read a book without a conflict, or watch a movie without a conflict? Even little kids like playing with plastic army men. So yes, it is true that people enjoy conflict. But no, it is not true that people enjoy war. War is too violent and too horrible for anyone to enjoy it.
     
  15. redarmy11 Registered Senior Member

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    I agree - sort of. I think the correct term is fascination, rather than enjoyment.

    And yet what feeds the fascination is the airbrushed Hollywood version of war - not the legless men lying dying in pools of their own blood, the bloodied corpses of babies, the burned homes, the burned faces, the terror, the cruelty and the confusion. We're fascinated with it because most of us have never experienced the reality of it, and never will.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2008
  16. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    Ever hear of the Spanish-American war? It's called "A Splendid Little War"

    And at the start of the civil war, people actually brought picnic lunches so they could watch the battle!
     
  17. Prince_James Plutarch (Mickey's Dog) Registered Senior Member

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    Fascination? Yes.

    Enjoyment? Moreso.

    I am addicted to mixed martial arts. It is a violent combat sport (though also a sport for gentlemen). I like to see people hurting eachother and choking eachother unconscious.

    Human beings can and do take enjoyment in violence. As war is about violence, taking enjoyment in it is not impossible. Who would not feel the thrill of watching the carnage of battle unfold? Or perhaps even participate in it? Of cour se, one's experience can sour quickly if one becomes massively injured, but still.
     
  18. redarmy11 Registered Senior Member

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    I have some photos of bloodied, burned and dismembered babies that you might find enjoyable. The one of the newborn with a 4-inch shrapnel wound in its back is particularly pleasing.

    You are the Hollywood Generation and I despair of you all.
     
  19. madanthonywayne Morning in America Registered Senior Member

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    No one likes seeing dead babies! But damned near everyone loves to see the enemy take one to the head.
     
  20. Pinocchio's Hoof Pay the Devil, or else.......£ Registered Senior Member

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    "War is fun when you have a gun,
    without one it is shite."

    "War in the name of peace"...wasn't that a paradoxal statement..?
     
  21. redarmy11 Registered Senior Member

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    What's enjoyable about seeing whole generations of young men slaughter each other at the behest of the powerful? I fail to see the pleasure.
     
  22. Roman Banned Banned

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    I enjoy violence, too. So do apes. It's a social thing, paradoxically. The most warlike critter on earth is the ant, which also happens to be one of the most social.

    That's what I find paradoxical about conflict.
     
  23. Simon Anders Valued Senior Member

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    I can't imagine that Churchill needed or had fanstasies of Hitler escorting him to take a piss.
     

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