What Hope For The Human Race: How Good Are We?

Every now and again my faith in human nature is given a boost. Yesterday I read a story about the comedienne Sarah Silverman whereby she was abused on social media and then reacted in the most amazing way.

Somebody called her the C-word on Twitter in response to one of Silverman's tweets. Instead of ignoring him, or slaying him with a witty reply, she decided to read his timeline and reach out to him with kindness.

The reaction from Sarah's would-be troll was amazing, and I have linked the article. However for now I want to share my musings with you, and invite you to add to the debate.

Are We Intrinsically Good?

If we can avoid descending into the philosophical quagmire of what exactly is the nature of good, my feeling is yes we are. This is evidenced by the size of our cities.

Not only are we good, but we also have evolved to wear that goodness as a badge. We want to broadcast to our peers and immediate community that we are to be trusted.

We have evolved beyond our base animal instinct and overcome that urge to fight for territory and build the largest mammalian communities on the planet.

Of course there is still war, fear, murder and xenophobia, however these are perpetrated by a vocal minority.

Unless you live in a war zone, then you don't fear for your life every time you leave your house to go to the shops.

The Paradox Of Good

Despite the fact that we are intrinsically good, there is still a lot to lament in the world today. However, I feel there is not quite as much as there was in times gone by.

Our standards of living have gone up, along with survival rates. However with the advent of digital communications came a new and silent worry for the human race.

For some reason the worst of us comes out on the internet, sometimes it is as if that without the social boundaries that are set when speaking with someone face-to-face. We lose the instinct to be good.

Breaking The Mould

For me what Sarah Silverman did the other day, is more of what we need in society. Acts such as that spread and encourage goodness.

There are people doing these sorts of things everyday, and of course we are lucky enough to have witnessed Silverman's acts of compassion and kindness because she is famous . . .

Turning Good Better

So how can we move forwards and keep getting better? Is there an ultimate end goal, and is there a path to that goal?

For me there are a few key things that have to happen over the coming years, decades, and centuries for us to reach a point of ultimate good.

• The end of the battle for resources, cheap/free renewable energy has to be available to all. Hence wars surrounding the control of fossil fuels can end.

• The end of organised religion, whilst I would never persecute, ridicule, or denigrate anybody for believing in a god that I don't. I see that organised religion has been used as a tool to persecute, subjugate and control.

• The end of money, one of my favourite authors, Iain M. Banks imagines a future with no money. Which of course would mean there would be no poor people, and no resentment from the have-nots, directed at the haves

• The end of boundaries and borders, by shifting focus from our differences, we can concentrate on what makes us all the same.

Sarah Silverman's Response To Sexist Tweet

Sidenote: The C-word is seen as sexist in America, yet in the UK, you are more likely to call a man it, than a woman . . . Hmmm, maybe more musings on the subject . .

I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON THIS SUBJECT, AS IT IS IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX. FOR NOW THOUGH PLEASE JOIN ME IN MY MUSINGS AND LET ME KNOW BELOW HOW YOU WOULD IMPROVE OUR LOT ON THIS BALL WE CALL EARTH.