As interesting as your observations may be, they are not responsive to my point. Nevertheless, I will make a few comments:
Yes, religion and compassion appear to be natural human traits, although we also have skeptical and malevolent impulses.
It seems to me that we are natural empire builders. Every human society that has managed to go much being subsistence has started building a larger state: Nineveh, Babylon, China, Egypt, Rome, and so forth. "Natural" cannot be defined merely by what primitive human beings do, but by what they do as circumstances permit.
It is my belief that we are far better off with "empires" and the civilizations that they bring into being, than as primitive men without medical care, amassed knowledge, or much in the way of art or amenities.
You cannot go on the basis of one group. There are plenty of primitives who kill, and even practice cannibalism. Some primitive people we find attractive in certain respects, others we do not. But even the "cuddly ones" are not enjoying life according to their mature capacities as human beings. If you think it a suitable way to live, get off your computer, burn your books, give away your MP3 player, and move into a hut in New Guinea.
The modern outlook is what brought us science, effective medical treatments, an end to slavery, and a lot of other good things. Were there bad things? Yes. But overall, the human lot has improved due to modernity. |
