What's new--Philosophically speaking!

Nothin! It took me about 50 years--and that was about 12 years ago--to figure out that there is nothin that is new. Oh yeh, there is stuff like the internet, and other "material" that you might consider "new", like cars and other things that we as humans discover or somehow manage to fashion out of "old" stuff that has been laying around as part of the universe for eons. But there is nothing new, only stuff that is new to us personally, or to someone else who points it out to us. I think our parents told us that when they were older, but we were skeptical.

Humans in general think to much of themselves. At one time humans of culture and great wisdom thought the Sun revolved around the Earth--the Earth had to be the center of the universe, since humans were obviously the beings directly decended from and favored by the Gods. While we all obviously know that the Universe has proven to be a bit larger than once thought, that knowledge still hasn't had the humbling impact one might have thought, since most of humankind still thinks that they are directly decended from one God or another, who is overlooking them and will somehow provide them with a safe afterlife somewhere in the spiritual part of the universe. All wonder where that might be but have strong beliefs about it that they seem to want to impose on others who think differently. (No one, I think, expects their God to provide them with a safe life on Earth anymore, although most pray for it!)

One might think if that is so, all of humankind would be more alike and in harmony with one thought in that regard. But we are not much advanced from when we thought the stars circled round the Earth. Most of the strife over the ages of mankind was over differences in what was thought by one group compared to another, what was had by one group and not another, thinking that somehow one group would "win" and have advantage forever. If humankind was the center of the Universe, perhaps that would be so, but a lifetime or generation of humankind is not forever and is but a tic in the time line of the universe. So seeking advantage over others seems to be only a pursuit of temporary pleasure through domination.

The reality seems to be that humankind is about the same as any other "kind" populating the planet. Procreation is the primary biological determinant of most of human behavior, just as it is with any other animal. Human males are dominant, territorial, and possessive of power in their relations with others. Violence is usually the ultimate behavior in imposing power and possessiveness upon others. It always has been so, and it appears that to this day there is no difference in that behavior from the time of the origins of life. The methods used are just more advanced!

What humans have always done to themselves and to each other seems to be the normal way of all life on this Planet from the existance of the first active cell. Sounds pretty stupid and self destructive, doesn't it?

As I read the paper, and watch the news every day, there it is, still going on and on and on....the same old stuff! It's nothin new!