Is man rising or falling?

[tomspug]

Do you believe that mankind is slowly ascending towards greatness or slowly descending into destruction?

 

[Magic Man]

I think we're evolving. I don't think we're going in any particular direction, just evolving.

 

[Phasmid]

A good question... sometimes I think, "I was born in the wrong period of history... I should be a 1945 guy... they had respect then" but when you look at that part of history people's were lacking our modern sensitivities e.g. equal rights for all races, colours and creeds and both the sexes.

Then I sometimes think, "Wow, look at how more aware we are about issues in this day and age. It's not perfect, but we're getting there". But when you look at the world today, we're all still ignorant to what matters. We're becomming complacent, greedy and spoiled in general.

So I'm not really sure I can answer your question. I mean people are capable of anything given the right incentives. You think about the inquisition... people have a sick, twisted ability to cause one another harm... you might think, "That's because people back then weren't as morally aware as us... we're better" but we're not... people would resort to the same things even in the civilised world if basic needs were not met.

So I guess (sorry I'm extremely tired and my head is full of maths related stuff) that people are fallen... we're not getting better, we're not getting worse. We are what we are.

 

[Valjean]

Rising? Falling?

We're a planetary infection, currently killing our host.

Our future is uncertain.

 

[3.14]

were falling realy hard luckaly i got a bungyrope around my feet so im bouncing up again

 

[fantome profane]

I believe society is progressing both in terms of knowledge and morality. However taking into account environmental degradation and overpopulation we may be ascending straight for a cliff. If that is the case it won’t be a slow descent.

 

[Draka]

Do you believe that mankind is slowly ascending towards greatness or slowly descending into destruction?

Neither and both. I agree with mball that we are evolving, always have and always will be. Now, though, as a society we are simultaneously learning, expanding our minds, opening up to differences, becoming more educated about our world and the people and life in it,...AND finding new and more efficient ways of killing each other, building better bombs, arguing over beliefs, waging wars and propogating hate. At this point we could go either way. We could work towards a more peaceful and utopian world...OR we could blow each other to smithereens and some other race will eventually evolve up to take our place as the main figureheads of this planet. Who knows at this point?

 

[DallasApple]

Both..

Love

Dallas

 

[Starfish]

Both..

Love

Dallas

I agree. Wheat and chaff.

 

[Engyo]

Do you believe that mankind is slowly ascending towards greatness or slowly descending into destruction?

Yes.

In fact, I believe we set new heights and depths on a regular basis.

 

[Willamena]

 

[Somkid]

I think we are evolving while our leaders devolve...

 

[lilithu]

As others have said, both. It seems that when we solve problems we create new ones.

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

If we're as dependent on the integrity of the Biosphere as I suspect we are and its as strained as I think it is then civilisation is in for a spectacular tumble. I do hope that I'm wrong or that something I do not expect will change our prospects. In any case I doubt I'll be around to find out.

 

[BucephalusBB]

Do you believe that mankind is slowly ascending towards greatness or slowly descending into destruction?

would it not depend on the goal? Were stil breeding like rabbits, so we are far from extinction. What is your so called destruction?

As others have said, both. It seems that when we solve problems we create new ones.

And every new problem gets solved again, creating everlasting thinking, isn't that the most beautifull thing?