If you see society and humanity's use of
reason and tools as an evolutionary
adaptation, then the artificial becomes
natural and the entire distinction breaks
down. But if you identify natural in human
beings with basic biological function and
drives which were present when we first
came on the scene and were
hunter/gathers, I think you might be able
to have a distinction between more or
less natural along the lines of more
primitive or more technological.

I have a less pessistic view than you. I
think human beings have evolved a great
deal. In first world nations of American
and Europe, we no longer have human
sacrifice, leave infants to die of exposure,
we have a welfare and medicare to take
care of the poor, sick and weak, racism is
against the law and racists shunned by
most of society, no one beliefs in an
aristocracy anymore or that those of
"noble blood" are better than others.
Democracy, individual liberties, the right
of freedom of speech and so aren't
present in ancient or medieval societies.
Even though Athens was a Democracy,
Socrates was put to death for things we
no longer consider crimes. There have
been no real large-scale wars since
Vietnam--only skirmishes. Compare our
relative peace with the history of the
ancient or medieval world, which was one
of perpetual warfare. Since the advent of
agriculture, most of the world's population
engaged in long hours of back-breaking
labor, with a few in the aristocracy who
didn't have to work. Now only the third
world does this sort of labor and in the
long run, it is hoped that they will become
second then first world as their
economies devleop.

>>Human beings have natural
>>violent and
>>selfish inclinations which we
>>attempt to
>>overcome through reason and
>>civilization.
>I'm confused. Are you stating that
>civilized society has made us less
>selfish and violent? If so, i disagree
>on both points. I think we might be more
>alienated from each other in civilized
>societies and that is what leads us to
>horrendous acts of free will i.e war,
>first degree murder, corporate slavery
>and sweatshops.

Prof. Borrowdale
borrowdalej@lanecc.edu