Humanities & Classics 1002
|
|
Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
    |
|
I came across this passage while reading Alberti's essay "On the Family". Alberti wrote, "We may, therefore state that man is created by Nature to use, and reap the benefits of, all things, and that he is born to be happy..."
Besides his excessive use of commas, I have a lot of problems with this statement. I find this to be a terribly arrogant and egocentric attitude. Perhaps human beings are born to be happy, but why is our happiness more important than other other creatures happiness? This is exactly the sort of attitude that has contributed to our destroying the planet. We have "reaped the benefits" so much that soon there won't be much left to reap. Also, we have done huge amounts of damage, much of which is irreversable.
Another quote from Alberti says, "It is said that man can do anything he wants." Apparently, he was not the only one person to feel this way, because human beings have proved this again and again. Man can do anything he wants--throw garbage everywhere, push animals out of their natural habitats, put them in zoos, torture other humans, pollute air, water, the list of things are endless. Shouldn't there be limits to do anything that you want?
The Renaissance was wonderful for its elevation of the human spirit, but doesn't it seem that the spirit has been lifted a bit too far? Forgive me for sounded a bit of the medievalist, but isn't it about time that we humbled ourselves a bit? I think that we have taken this "we can do anything" idea way too far. If we can do anything, why do we have to be so selfish? If we are so all-powerful and have such potential, why don't we use this power for an end that benefits more beings?
It seems to me that if we believe ourselves to be so powerful, we need to assume a little more of the responsibility that goes along with that power. Yes, we have knowledge and language and many things that other creatures don't have, but does that really make us superior if we use it to destroy everything around us? Besides, if we are really "born to be happy" as Alberti says, are we really happy right now? Does reaping all the benefits and using all of the resources until they are gone really make us happy?
How many years did it take us to accept the fact that the universe did not revolve around the earth? How many years will it take us to realize that the earth does not revolve around humanity? There were dinosaurs here before us weren't there? We'd make great pets, we'd make great pets....maybe martians could do better than we've done.....
Well, I guess that's my point......I'll just get down off my soap box now.....
Julie