• jbrains@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    10
    ·
    1 year ago

    Compassion. Its existence is most improbable.

    That’s probably not how you meant the question, but it’s the meaning that comes to my mind.

    • mlfh@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      1 year ago

      Altruistic behavior in social creatures improves the fitness of the group, and has positive evolutionary pressure. Strong, cohesive groups pass on their genes, so actually pretty probable!

      • jbrains@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        1 year ago

        On one hand, yes, absolutely; on the other hand, when the chips are down, we seem to choose violence over compassion and cooperation. Given how difficult living likely was in the distant past, I would have guessed that compassion would have died in the crib.

      • jbrains@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Thank you. I know of it, but haven’t read it. I probably know a very superficial version of the argument, but I might find a full-length description of it more credible. Even so, it seems more fortunate than inevitable to me.

    • Ars Fireside@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      You saying that makes me think you either have never met true compassion or doubted every example of it whenever you did. Either way, it makes me regret your worldview. I hope you meet true compassion someday, the one which you’ll not be able to doubt. Love and peace to you.