Civilization: nothing more than owning junk/possessions and laws?
 

I wonder at times if the only thing that really separates us from animals is the possessions we have and the laws on the books to maintain order and 'civility'.

The laws on the books keep most people in check, otherwise take them away for say a month, and you'll see 'humanity' revert very quickly to it's ugly self.

"Progress" indeed

Naw.

Cynical as I am, I'm not that cynical.

not much DNA separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom...but little changes there make for significant differences.

It wouldn't be hard to see things like that, but it's not that bad. That's not looking at/thinking about the big picture. There are always folks doing good for others and performing selfless acts, there are always bad people being selfish and doing bad things, there are always leaders, there are always law/military types. Don't focus on just one group over another.

Yes, if anarchy were allowed to reign for a bit, things would probably get bad, but they would then eventually get better. How long would it take, who knows. Hopefully, we never have to find out.

The ability to think, reason, and discuss these thoughts with one another is a huge difference.

There is more to it than just stuff, or that would be all anybody really cared about. I like nice stuff, but care about people. Some people just have a different idea about what is important, get caught up with materialism.

Art

To think, to create, art, abstract thoughts. We are far removed from the animals, even with no possessions.

Think about how much knowledge the desert Bedouins acquired about the heavens, and they owned only what they could carry.

Tools (particularly Snap-On) separate us from animals.
Jim

Is humanity, underneath, "Lord of the Flies" or "Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors"?
Read both books, then decide.
(At the risk of getting real PARF, real quick, the difference is Judeo-Christianity.)

People have always literally and figuratively been animals...differing from each other by less than a degree but convinced that the differences are much greater.

There's no wonder my friend...

I can see chimps using Harbor Freight tools in my lifetime, but likely not Snap-On.

Just watch the movie "Purge" about how decent people can hold it together, but given a chance to be lawless freaks for one night a year.

This. Any ol' primate can have and use an opposable thumb. Only man can reasonably justify the (initially) higher price and enjoy the pleasure of using the superior quality tool.

(But I'm still looking over my shoulder, watching the progress crows are making up the evolutionary ladder...)

by yourself you may be able to survive, but not thrive.

Civilization means worknig together for the common good: building structures and shelters, developing languages, sharing knowledge, using cooperation to increase capacity to grow food and create products that improve the standard of living and survivability. Specialization of skills and tasks.

Not to mention that we, by design, are social creatures.
Try living by yourself with no contact at all with others for a few years, you'll end up batty as all get out.

As screwed up as we are, we need each other to survive.



PS chimps are too smart to get brainwashed with the old "you get what you pay for" line. ;)

Civilization = PPOT



or should I have substituted PARF in my equation....hhhmmm

I'm ambivalent towards you cynicism

Domed! We are all domed I tell you!!!!