Is Mankind Rational?

[spathiphyllum]

Would you say that mankind is rational?

[kvalidir]

That's a very large and loaded question can you elaborate because there are many answers to that.

[spathiphyllum]

Regarding the 'bigger picture'. Is mankind rational? Regarding Our purpose, activity, 'agenda', longevity..

[Prudie]

Well as rational is a word created by man one would assume in essence yes.

[ummmm]

No. Not in the slightest.

Whether we talk about Saturday night shenanigans or world wars...all irrational, imo.

[kvalidir]

I see, well I try to look at the bigger picture generally, in terms of the effect we have on the planet, how my small actions affect people as a whole ( butterfly effect if you like), but then people are also selfish, so despite the fact we're overpopulated as a planet as a whole I'm going to have children, but I like to think that a couple of extra people can be offset by the good we will all do the planet because we do actually care, but in that sense we can rationalise our own negative actions as being okay, so it's a double edged sword.

[dave50]

I think mankind takes itself far too seriously. We are nothing in this great universe, a molecule in comparison and one day we will cease to exist so just make the best of it, enjoy and be happy. Stop worrying about stuff like saving the planet, we will all be gone one day anyway so what does it matter?

[kvalidir]

So we can wreak havoc and destruction just because we personally won't be there to see the sum total of our actions? That's really terrifying, should we not be better than that, don't you care about the quality of life your children will have or the animals that we share the planet with?

[Old_Geezer]

Large groups find it difficult to be rational unless an authority holds all in check. Too many individual agendas for personal benefit to get the group to act together.

[spathiphyllum]

Would democracy have a part to play in humanitys rationality?

[kvalidir]

Democracy in effect is simply mob rule, the majority is served but minorities are not, unless the majority is evolved enough to take this into account.

[Old_Geezer]

In a mature democracy the needs of minorities have to be considered as they are part of the whole.

Democracy can not be a full answer. Totalitarianism might be, but no one should want that.

[Zacs-Master]

Our greed and avarice are deep rooted into our psyche. So is the desire to protect your kin-folk. This can make us deeply irrational.

The answer is, not always.

[kvalidir]

Yeah that's true, I'd kill for my partner or family and not even lose sleep over it, we are all quite primal under difficult circumstances. I'm not particularly greedy for material things but then I'm comfortably off, put me in a scenario where I had to fight for food for those I love and I imagine knowing myself and being honest I'd take your face off.

[Theland]

Mankind? Gender specific pronoun? Oh dear.
The P.C. brigade won't like that!
But I think that, "mankind"is TOO rational, and refuses to even try to comprehend the irrational.
I believe there is more to life than the secular materialistic world that seems to be the viewpoint of the status quo.

[mibn2cweus]

Rationality is humanities defining characteristic. That's how we became human and without it we cease to be human . . . if we manage to continue to exist at all.