by Wes Fessler |
Fairness
Survival of the fairest
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December 8 , 2010 |
We have all heard the optimistic phrases “fair and square” and “fair enough,” but they are always countered by skeptical, pessimistic remarks that say “the world is not fair” and “life is not fair.” While it is true that many things that happen in the world do not seem fair, much about fairness in the world is dependent on who we are as individuals, and how we decide to live our lives. Rather than to be found in the despondency of pessimism, it may be a lesson to each of us to consider the usefulness of optimism and its liberating truth that allows us to be “fair and square.”
The Nature of Fairness
In nature there are many things that do not seem fair. Predation is rampant in a circle of life in which simple-minded creatures feed upon one another. Smaller animals are commonly the prey of larger as they satisfy their hunger upon those who are not able to adequately defend themselves. A great variety of animals are compelled to feed on other animals for survival, as this is all they know about the world, and they are not able to provide for their needs in any other way. This is not, however, a reason for creatures of intellect to justify predation among themselves. As human beings we know how to manipulate our environment to secure our daily needs of survival. There is no reason to resort to a cannibalistic destruction of ourselves as a species, and yet in life we choose many actions that harm one another and are by no means fair or just. We have the knowledge to seek optimism that will allow us to be “fair enough,” but many of us choose the pessimistic philosophy that makes us even more destructive than lesser animals and keen to the pursuit of the destruction of our own kind.
Survival of the Fittest
Human beings are not forever compelled to ascribe to the concept of survival of the fittest. We do not have to harm one another in order to assure the continuation of our lives from day to day. We do not have to posture against one another with violence, murder, or the threat of impoverishment or starvation to perpetuate our own lives, and yet we as a species do so by choice. We choose to make the world unfair, and make ourselves our own worst enemies.
Our Choices
We are taught in youth to be fair and to share what we have with others. We are taught to be kind, and to be respectful of other’s feelings, their possessions, and their safety. As children we learn the basics of optimistic fairness, but somehow in large numbers we choose to regress to a mentality that is worse than any animal instinct, and which promotes enmity and destruction against our own species. These are choices that are made in our homes, in our schools, and in nations of our world…choices that have been made over hundreds of years, but also those that are made every day. These are choices we must also consider as individuals in the realization that we do not need to conquer one another in everything we do. We, as individuals, have the choice to indulge in pessimism and a compulsion worse than that of lesser animals, or to embrace the optimism of fairness, that allows us to treat our fellow beings with dignity, honor, and mutual benefit.
Survival of the Fairest
Some people see fairness as a sign of weakness. Some seek to take advantage of those who treat others fairly, hoping to exploit genuine tokens of goodwill and human caring to their own advantage. There are those who perceive life as a choice between being fair, or alternatively, getting what they want. From this self-serving perspective people fail to realize that being fair can be synonymous with getting what we want. Collectively fairness fulfills the needs of everyone. When everyone is able to be fair, there is less reason to worry about getting what we want and more motivation to see that others get what they need. If everyone chose to be fair, people would be motivated to take care of one another and would find it abhorrent that others may suffer. If humanity strove for fairness, rather than greed, the drive of life would be survival of fairest (everyone) rather than survival of the fittest (someone).
Fairness is an optimistic choice that allows one to see the world and life not only as it is, or as it has been, but with a vision of how it should and can be. Being fair is a decision that separates us from other creatures and proves that we are capable of more than basic animal instincts. Every human being has the capacity for fairness, but each must choose to rise above the longing for self-indulgence and to consider the higher cause of the well being of others. There are many traits, both good and bad among the human psyche, some of which are instinctual, and some that are even darker than human nature can begin to explain. We can be loving and kind, or we can be selfish, domineering, and abusive. To truly distinguish ourselves as creatures of higher thought, we must choose to be fair and considerate of our own species, regardless of race, color, gender or nationality. Fairness is what makes mankind exceptional in this world. Fairness is the ability of mankind to rise above his prejudices.
Related Reading:
Family Challenges and Change: The world's most important changes are made in the home.
Learning Something New Every Day: Learning something daily that is beneficial to our lives is a possibility, but it is not guaranteed without a conscious effort on our part.
Controlling Thoughts: Mastering our Minds and Thoughts: We evaluate ourselves based on things we do, finding joy and regret in actions, while scarcely noticing that the driving force behind them is our thoughts.
Fighting Technology for Family Time: Gadgets and gizmos available today are truly amazing, but have they really simplified our lives or allowed us to pay more attention to anything that really matters to us, like our families for instance?
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