Greed (cross)

[Lightkeeper]

Where is it that we cross the line from stocking up to preserve life to all and all greed? One of the reasons for war is greed. Do you think we need greed to survive?

[Saw11_2000]

I don't think we need greed. Greed just feels better than not having something. That's why most people follow it, it feels good to them to want something. Are you talking about like stocking up on nuclear war-heads? I think it is to preserve life if you are, if one idiot country in Asia *cough*North Korea*cough* fires one at us, we need to be able to turn the country into a toxic-waste puddle.

[Isis-Astoroth]

I think that greed is there, even if a little bit, in everyone, but it is made stronger in people because of the strong consumer societies there are in the western world. I do not think humanity needs greed really. Though there was once competition in from other species and groups for resources; there is a point where someone can cross the line from need, into greed. There is a difference, between taking things for yourself because you need it, and taking things for yourself because you want them. Therefore, I do not think greed is essential to a humanity's survival in general, because even if two people were starving to death, I think the automatic response would be to share, than for one person to keep everything all to themselves.

[Dr. Nosophoros]

Greed is necessary but I think where the line is crossed is when that greed overwhelms the natural order and threatens, immediately or over time, to harm or destroy us partially or as a whole. I think we crossed that line a long time ago and as a result, we have (and still do) poison our air, our water, our food and so on, we also are quite capable of destroying entire species of animals and forests in the same end to keep our "unnatural" world going. Yes, some of the main reasons for war is greed but how much animal warfare do you usually see? they fight over hunting ground, mates etc. but they rarely kill each other in that pursuit and rarely take more than they really need. I think our problem as a human race is that we are too "smart" for our own (and everybody elses) good. I see the world we live in now is a direct result of the lack of a balance between need and greed, I also believe we have also created a world that requires us to continue an "unnatural" greed for it to continue to operate to a large degree.