SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (Also known as Rat Race!)
Nicholas Eberstadt in his article in Time (Oct. 3) (http://time.com/4504004/men-without-work/) brings out a very serious social problem now being faced by the USA, which will be faced in days to come by every developed or developing country by turn. No country will be left alone!
This phenomenon is a classic example of something being good now and turning out to be bad in the long run! As education levels increased so went up automation in workplace bringing down cost of production and price of products to give great relief to poor and improving economies manifold all over the world. More and more discoveries and inventions changed the world unrecognizably within a century!
But the eternal rule of survival of the fittest (which implies a constant fight between the able and weak for survival and which in other words means, fruits of life) has sneaked in to spoil the show. Human beings survived and took leadership of all living beings by coming out as the most able and fittest. Now a sub-group of human beings is challenging the other humans, proving to be superior and entitled to claim modern fruits of life.
This first sub-group consists of those who are already enjoying these fruits, the inheritors, self made wealthy, and all those who can and have the tools to create the desired wealth in any of its form(s) i.e. age, inheritance, political power, money, much superior education, etc.
The second sub-group consists mainly of those who are old, poor, not well educated, owning hardly anything worthwhile and dependent upon others for everything. Their only strength is when they are in a group.
There are two possibilities. The first can increase its capacity to prosper more and more and make the second group gradually vanish in coming centuries. Or the second group can pick up itself and by improving itself try to merge into the first group. This new setup may happen, but will it continue for any longer period?
The question is will the eternal (?) rule of 'survival of the fittest' itself be able to survive? Or will the winners of today learn from past examples of nature that cooperation and assimilation will result in a better world?
This will depend upon which group is more assertive. There is no question of the second group ever bringing down the first group. What is possible is the second group elevating to the level of the first group by more education and catching up, with or without the help of first group. OR while the catching up process is going on, the first group moving up much further beyond the catching range of the second.
Generations of the next century may have an answer this question.
Nicholas Eberstadt in his article in Time (Oct. 3) (http://time.com/4504004/men-without-work/) brings out a very serious social problem now being faced by the USA, which will be faced in days to come by every developed or developing country by turn. No country will be left alone!
This phenomenon is a classic example of something being good now and turning out to be bad in the long run! As education levels increased so went up automation in workplace bringing down cost of production and price of products to give great relief to poor and improving economies manifold all over the world. More and more discoveries and inventions changed the world unrecognizably within a century!
But the eternal rule of survival of the fittest (which implies a constant fight between the able and weak for survival and which in other words means, fruits of life) has sneaked in to spoil the show. Human beings survived and took leadership of all living beings by coming out as the most able and fittest. Now a sub-group of human beings is challenging the other humans, proving to be superior and entitled to claim modern fruits of life.
This first sub-group consists of those who are already enjoying these fruits, the inheritors, self made wealthy, and all those who can and have the tools to create the desired wealth in any of its form(s) i.e. age, inheritance, political power, money, much superior education, etc.
The second sub-group consists mainly of those who are old, poor, not well educated, owning hardly anything worthwhile and dependent upon others for everything. Their only strength is when they are in a group.
There are two possibilities. The first can increase its capacity to prosper more and more and make the second group gradually vanish in coming centuries. Or the second group can pick up itself and by improving itself try to merge into the first group. This new setup may happen, but will it continue for any longer period?
The question is will the eternal (?) rule of 'survival of the fittest' itself be able to survive? Or will the winners of today learn from past examples of nature that cooperation and assimilation will result in a better world?
This will depend upon which group is more assertive. There is no question of the second group ever bringing down the first group. What is possible is the second group elevating to the level of the first group by more education and catching up, with or without the help of first group. OR while the catching up process is going on, the first group moving up much further beyond the catching range of the second.
Generations of the next century may have an answer this question.
Comments
Post a Comment