What sets human being apart from animals? What is the one thing that makes humanity greater then the beats of the ground, the fish of the seas, and the birds of the air? Why are we greater then all the other animals which God in His wisdom placed upon this green earth? I said before that power is finite, that it, like matter, can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only be transferred from one power holder to another. But this rule is not entirely true, because the 5th power, the power over ones own mind and self, is created at your birth and destroyed upon your death. Each human being is born with power inside of them, and that power can not be taken away by anyone else unless you willingly give it up or have it stolen away though great effort.
We as human beings are the only creatures on this planet capable of self examination and holding power over our own minds. No other creature on this planet, from the common rat crawling in sewers, to the primate, is capable of thinking in the same way humans do; they aren’t capable of self examination, incapable of acting outside of their own instinct, and so are incapable of possessing the 5th power. Animals do not create power when they are born, nor is power destroyed when they die; that is a trait completely unique to humans and humans alone. THAT is what it means to be human, the ability to self examine, the ability to think in a rational, and logical manner, both of which result from the ability to examine oneself.
That power is our greatest treasure, our most valuable possession, the brightest jewel of human accomplishment. Our mind, our thoughts, our emotions, the power to control all of these is within us, and you must never allow another to take it away. To lose said power is to lose what it means to be human. It must be diligently guarded against any who would challenge your right to it; the power you create when you are born is your and yours alone; no one else has a right to posses it. Guard your mind, your rationality, your emotions, your thought, hopes and dreams, from anyone wishing to gain ultimate power over you. You created that power when you were born; therefore you are the only one who has a right to it. If you lose all else, if you have no power over the four finite powers, at least hold on to your naturally given power as your right. THAT is your natural right.
We as human beings are the only creatures on this planet capable of self examination and holding power over our own minds. No other creature on this planet, from the common rat crawling in sewers, to the primate, is capable of thinking in the same way humans do; they aren’t capable of self examination, incapable of acting outside of their own instinct, and so are incapable of possessing the 5th power. Animals do not create power when they are born, nor is power destroyed when they die; that is a trait completely unique to humans and humans alone. THAT is what it means to be human, the ability to self examine, the ability to think in a rational, and logical manner, both of which result from the ability to examine oneself.
That power is our greatest treasure, our most valuable possession, the brightest jewel of human accomplishment. Our mind, our thoughts, our emotions, the power to control all of these is within us, and you must never allow another to take it away. To lose said power is to lose what it means to be human. It must be diligently guarded against any who would challenge your right to it; the power you create when you are born is your and yours alone; no one else has a right to posses it. Guard your mind, your rationality, your emotions, your thought, hopes and dreams, from anyone wishing to gain ultimate power over you. You created that power when you were born; therefore you are the only one who has a right to it. If you lose all else, if you have no power over the four finite powers, at least hold on to your naturally given power as your right. THAT is your natural right.
10 comments:
I totally agree with your sentiments here. Too bad we can't say the same about liberty, because whether or not you are born into liberty can set the tone regarding how you guard your mind, thoughts, and emotions (or not, as the case may be).
One nit to pick: to say that no other animal is capable of acting outside of instinct is kind of like saying no other animal has a brain. It's all a matter of degree. Certainly, self-awareness in human beings is the most highly developed - but to deny that other higher mammals possess the same to a lesser degree is to deny a large body of scientific evidence.
Mr. Chicken.
But can animals really self examine themselves? Sure, some higher mammals are capable of acting outside their own instinct, but can they really think in any sort of rational or logical manner? I highly doubt that, and if they could do this then the laws of morality would apply to them as well. They don't create power when they are born, and so are lesser beings then humans. I will try to talk about animal rights in a later post. Self awareness isn't totally human, but the ability to self examine, and therefore hold power over oneself, is.
"I totally agree with your sentiments here. Too bad we can't say the same about liberty, because whether or not you are born into liberty can set the tone regarding how you guard your mind, thoughts, and emotions (or not, as the case may be)."
I've always believed in the natural rights put down by John Lock and Thomas Jefferson, the rights to Life, Liberty, Property, and Pursuit of Happiness, but for a long time I was trying to figure out just where those rights come from and why we have them but not animals. When I thought more about my power theory, it made itself clear. How happy I was when I realized this. Every man has rights, regardless of if their government recognizes those rights.
>>but can they really think in any sort of rational or logical manner?
Does the ability to communicate with humans using a limited-vocabulary sign language count? How 'bout the ability to invent a food processing technique that is then culturally transmitted? Personally, I see both of these as examples of a rudimentary degree of rational and logical thought.
Mr. Chicken.
>>Every man has rights, regardless of if their government recognizes those rights.
I'm not sure I see this. Certainly, I agree that no man nor government can take away our mind, our thoughts, and our emotions. Unfortunately, man and/or government can take away our liberty. For example, people born into slavery are born without liberty - the only way they can obtain liberty is if it is given to them or if they take it by force.
Mr. Chicken.
NOTE: I'm not saying that since toddlers are not capable of ratinal thought they have no rights, it is the potental that gives them their right. Every human baby has the potental to be a ratinal human being. Apes do not hae the same potental. When they do, then they could be considered mantally capable creatures and moral rights could be aplied to the as well.
>>Every human baby has the potental to be a ratinal human being.
And I would not even consider saying otherwise. It seems I may have touched a nerve here by trying to examine the morality of higher mammals - let's just drop this line of discussion, as it's really tangential to your posting anyway.
Mr. Chicken.
No, I'm not mad at all, and I'm sorry if I made you think that. What I was saying was that the laws of morality, as they are, should apply to all rational beings or beings can have proven themselves capable of rational thought and self examination. No creatures besides humans can self examine themselves, apes can do many things humans do but they can’t sit back and discover WHY they do things. As a human there are certain things you simply do, but you can also sit back and think about why you do them. Why do you want to do the right thing? We can find that out though self examination, animals simply cannot do that.
Agreed - if apes have any capability for self examination at all, it is extremely rudimentary. That being said, is self examination really a pre-requisite for morality? Or just a pre-requisite for human morality? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/science/20moral.html?ei=5087
Mr. Chicken.
Whow, I'm not taling about morality, I'm talking about natural rights, morality comes from respecting those natural rights. But i guess you do have a point, if apes have ratinal thought they have natural rights and also have morality. I'd say yes, self examination is needed to be able to have natural rights and therfor morality, as for the monkies all I can say is purhaps their evolving.
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