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Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

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Re: Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

#51

Post by EGreg »

return0 wrote: post #48
Graphon1 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Imagine a society without justice/police in which people must fend for themselves. It would quickly deteriorate to the point wherein there would be a fair bit of violence. that conclusion is not warranted by the premise. How about this as an alternative outcome: "Imagine a society in which people actively defend community values for themselves and in cooperation with a community of similarly concerned citizens. It…

> Just because there is no dedicated, professional person filling a role, does not mean the role will not be filled And thats how you get Somalia. Police was invented for a reason i suppose .

Violence happens when there arent enough resources

Re: Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

#52

Post by return0 »

EGreg wrote: post #51
return0 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just because there is no dedicated, professional person filling a role, does not mean the role will not be filled And thats how you get Somalia. Police was invented for a reason i suppose .

Violence happens when there arent enough resources

You mean like WW2?

Re: Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

#53

Post by lez »

EGreg wrote: post #51
return0 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just because there is no dedicated, professional person filling a role, does not mean the role will not be filled And thats how you get Somalia. Police was invented for a reason i suppose .

Violence happens when there arent enough resources

The problem is, there is no upper limit on "enough". Wars have been started on grounds of vital resources like food, water, etc. it's not common nowadays, as technology helped us to produce food more efficiently, and it's enough for the current population of the planet. Maybe it will not be enough for 15 billion people, which is not happening in the near future.

But then there are wars started on grouds of religion (ISIS), or territorial agression for the future generation (WWII), and none of these has to do with current resource limitations. These are based on ideologies that are made up and controlled by few and distributed via media.

Technology has made it possible to spread these kinds of ideologies more efficient than ever. It's everywhere, in news, facebook, even in Hollywood. And it is slowly transforming people to accept a greater level of violence.

Re: Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

#54

Post by EGreg »

return0 wrote: post #52
EGreg wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Violence happens when there arent enough resources

You mean like WW2?

Would it have happened if Germany's economy wasn't devastated by the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression didn't affect economies worldwide and the German currency was completely devalued? Would the national socialist party get such control?

Re: Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence

#55

Post by EGreg »

lez wrote: post #53
EGreg wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Violence happens when there arent enough resources

The problem is, there is no upper limit on "enough". Wars have been started on grounds of vital resources like food, water, etc. it's not common nowadays, as technology helped us to produce food more efficiently, and it's enough for the current population of the planet. Maybe it will not be enough for 15 billion people, which is not happening in the near future. But then there are wars started on grouds of religion (…

Greater level than what?
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