We are animals, we need to destroy the environment to survive (ex cut down trees for shelter, kill living things to eat). We have the urge to reproduce, so there is more of us which leads to more destruction. If a person is threatened, they will be prepared to kill another for their survival. This is pretty much true for most living beings.
I wouldn’t call us a virus, but it was probably our intelligence that will bring us to our downfall. Maybe an anthropologist can comment on what the tipping point was.
This is just a thought terminating cliche that capitalists have developed now that the problems with the system are undeniable. It’s the classic retort of the scum bag, after they’ve realized “I didn’t do it” won’t fly, to say “well, everyone does it!"
Note how I didnt even mention capitalism here, attacked or defended any system but tried to understand the “virus” argument in the most basic form. I’ve looked at humankind from the biological aspect far far removed from any social or economic constructs such as capitalism.
At its core, I don’t believe humans can live with zero impact on their environment and that we all have self preservation built in, just like any animal. I did not draw a conclusion that capitalism is therefore inevitable - or that our nature is solely responsible.
Capitalism arises from social and economic conditions, it is a historic phase - one which we came to due to wealth accumulation, commodification of land and labor and technological advancement (industrialization). According to Marx, it was inevitable.
Will the “virus” argument go away in a post capitalist society? I don’t know, you tell me. The biological traits I mentioned will still be there. The social and economic conditions won’t. Will we still be killing each other and impacting the environment?
I think its just nature and nature is brutal.
We are animals, we need to destroy the environment to survive (ex cut down trees for shelter, kill living things to eat). We have the urge to reproduce, so there is more of us which leads to more destruction. If a person is threatened, they will be prepared to kill another for their survival. This is pretty much true for most living beings.
I wouldn’t call us a virus, but it was probably our intelligence that will bring us to our downfall. Maybe an anthropologist can comment on what the tipping point was.
This is just a thought terminating cliche that capitalists have developed now that the problems with the system are undeniable. It’s the classic retort of the scum bag, after they’ve realized “I didn’t do it” won’t fly, to say “well, everyone does it!"
Note how I didnt even mention capitalism here, attacked or defended any system but tried to understand the “virus” argument in the most basic form. I’ve looked at humankind from the biological aspect far far removed from any social or economic constructs such as capitalism.
At its core, I don’t believe humans can live with zero impact on their environment and that we all have self preservation built in, just like any animal. I did not draw a conclusion that capitalism is therefore inevitable - or that our nature is solely responsible.
Capitalism arises from social and economic conditions, it is a historic phase - one which we came to due to wealth accumulation, commodification of land and labor and technological advancement (industrialization). According to Marx, it was inevitable.
Will the “virus” argument go away in a post capitalist society? I don’t know, you tell me. The biological traits I mentioned will still be there. The social and economic conditions won’t. Will we still be killing each other and impacting the environment?