Compact for 'Nowhereisland'

We evolved as a species by co-operation rather than through  the a crude interpretation of  social Darwinism. Survival meant that the group effort contributed to hunting successfully and sharing the kill.

Co-operation is the essential pre-requisite of productivity. A sense of morality would have come into play when the spoils were subsequently distributed, and the concept of 'sharing' would have arisen. If there were  disputes and confrontation further co-operation would result in a lack of shared reward.

Co-operation is a survival mechanism, and the most useful way of ensuring a supply of the essentials for the continuation of life.  Where resources are scarce, competition is an absurdity, for in this system, the stronger, more assertive and  cunning will start to accrue a greater share of the outcome of group effort.

Co-operation is only meaningful if there is  an equitable sharing  of productivity. But  the question arises as to why should ‘sharing’  be the only way to organise society. Shouldn’t the strong, powerful, and resourceful have a greater proportion  of what is produced? It is just the way that social Darwinism  will operate, and an imbalance of organisms will  result.

This is when an inbuilt morality kicks in. What is the common feature of  all of us?  It is simple question that is frequently  forgotten. We may be white, black, brown, woman and  man, able or disabled, old or infants, have different sexual preferences,  come from different cultures countries, and speak a thousand different languages. Each one of us is different, but one thing unites us; our humanity. We are humans before we are subsumed in the categories outlined above.

As humans therefore we have a duty  to our fellow beings as the primary fact of our existence. It is by  this ability to transfer your mindset to another’s needs, rights, aspirations and behaviour, that we can hope to create  a successful society, a new world  of co-operation, tolerance, fairness, and respect. It will be instructive to study Martin Buber’s “I and thou”. If we look at this dispassionately aren’t we all after the means to live fruitful lives  in freedom, develop our abilities and perhaps most importantly love.

As humans we have an undying imperative to  imagine a better world. I don’t advocate any allegiance to  authority  figures or heroes,  specific political structures or ideological systems. If anything I am a citizen of the world  and I can only intuit what defines our humanity by what I feel is right, fair, rational and live to seek the truth and work towards its precepts. The best of luck in ‘Nowhereisland’ I may be accused  of  naivety in this blog, but it is human to hope as well. Love to the deamers, idealists and utopians who want a better world.