Maybe the issue is that we continually insist on humanizing words and actions like this, and by extension, the people that generate them. Or at least, assuming that the origin of these kinds of thoughts is kin to us.
Studies of the typical C level boardroom execs show a distinct inclination towards sociopathy or outright psycopathy. Monetary success is the reward for empathy-free ruthlessness, and money is the means to spread your genes (a lukewarm hello to Elon and his bound concubines). There is a selection pressure for being less empathetic. Less sentient and conscious of one’s actions when framed in a larger context of their effects on others.
This is (to me at least) evidence that they are either at best, maladapted humans, or at worse then initial offshoot of a less empathetic subspecies. We’re not privy to recognize the intersections and points-of-no-return in any given species’ evolution in nature. We tend to organize it all into a neat tree so we can teach it in biology.
But once, long ago, we had cousins in the genus Homo. It’s pretty myopic to think our branch won’t ever bifurcate ever again: of course it will (has?).
(Heavy sigh).
I don’t know what this says about how we should treat this type of… disorder, from an ethical, empathetic or fitness position. Or about me. Probably enough to make a therapist weep openly about all of it.
At some point though, species eventually compete, but I suppose the silver lining is we’ll eventually be unable to produce fertile offspring with conservatives, and they will haaaaate that.
I’m also not advocating that we de-humanize them (a subspecies is still in the same species!), but we shouldn’t kid ourselves about a) all being animals that evolved and b) how we’re thought of by them.
Maybe the issue is that we continually insist on humanizing words and actions like this, and by extension, the people that generate them. Or at least, assuming that the origin of these kinds of thoughts is kin to us.
Studies of the typical C level boardroom execs show a distinct inclination towards sociopathy or outright psycopathy. Monetary success is the reward for empathy-free ruthlessness, and money is the means to spread your genes (a lukewarm hello to Elon and his bound concubines). There is a selection pressure for being less empathetic. Less sentient and conscious of one’s actions when framed in a larger context of their effects on others.
This is (to me at least) evidence that they are either at best, maladapted humans, or at worse then initial offshoot of a less empathetic subspecies. We’re not privy to recognize the intersections and points-of-no-return in any given species’ evolution in nature. We tend to organize it all into a neat tree so we can teach it in biology.
But once, long ago, we had cousins in the genus Homo. It’s pretty myopic to think our branch won’t ever bifurcate ever again: of course it will (has?).
(Heavy sigh).
I don’t know what this says about how we should treat this type of… disorder, from an ethical, empathetic or fitness position. Or about me. Probably enough to make a therapist weep openly about all of it.
At some point though, species eventually compete, but I suppose the silver lining is we’ll eventually be unable to produce fertile offspring with conservatives, and they will haaaaate that.
I’m also not advocating that we de-humanize them (a subspecies is still in the same species!), but we shouldn’t kid ourselves about a) all being animals that evolved and b) how we’re thought of by them.