Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Limits We May Or May Not Be Imposed With


"As a result a naturalist is able to describe a dominance hierarchy or peck order-a rank-ordering society, in which everybody knows his place, and does not get ideas above his station." pg 114. Do we limit ourselves to live we what we have and not look out into the world to get more? This idea is one that is debated a lot and which we usually agree with in all its meanings at different times. Sometimes we think and are told about how we should be happy with what we have. We should appreciate the things we have and moments we are living, therefore leaving our greed of acquiring more out. Why do you want more? Aren't you happy with what you have? Do you know there are people who are less fotunate than you? All these questions are brought to your mind at some point, and usually we agree with them. Happiness is something we create, not something we are born with. But then theres the other way around to the statement. Shouldn't we think about our future and want to improve in every way possible? We consistently want to become better people and look ahead to all the possibilities life brings. Why should we accept misery as something to live with, and why should we accept something we know could be better off in some other direction? These questions force us to think about improving our way of life, and want more in every way.

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So how can we decide which one to follow? If we were to hear one of them independently from the other, we would agree with it no matter what, even if they are the complete opposite. The truth of the matter is that there is no way to really decide on one, for both of them are programmed on the human body. We always want to achieve more and look at all the possibilities, but at the same time we think about what we have and about how we should be happy for it. But is there a difference between wanting to improve and greed? And is there a difference between accepting what we have and mediocracy? There is. Both mediocracy and greed are the extreme levels of the two. If we were to hear these two as something we are able to do at the same time, we would counter them with greed and mediocracy. Therefore the perfect balance between the two involve having both of these at a controlled level, where the extremes are what causes us to consider two good things to become the complete opposite in a negative way. We are able to be happy with what we have, but at the same time look into our future and want the opportunities which come up, helping us go for the better.

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