Something to die for
From angry old man Norman Mailer, I heard the question "Is there anyone or anything in your life for which you would die for?".
This is not only an interesting question, but also an envious question. If you consider it, you will evidently conclude that there will be nothing worthwhile to die for.
However in world war one, over a million soldiers died for their countries. How can this be explained? And shouldn´t this fact trouble us?
In the evolution of species, an individual drive to survive developed: Subjects with a strong drive lived longer than those who had a drive to throw themselves from high cliffs. In this way, the individuals that aimed on survival had a better chance to reproduce, and the drive to survival became a property, that would be inherited from generation to generation.
In the same way, a property developed, that was aimed on survival of the species. It can be rationalised that this drive for collective survival will be stronger than the drive for individual survival.
People who have been in love, may discern that there are feelings, or instincts, that are much stronger than the will to survive, or the fear for dying.
The soldiers in the first world war were convinced that winning the war was essential for the survival of their social group, identified by them as there country. They may have had the feeling that their sacrifice served a purpose.
Due to the more than successful growth of mankind, there is no longer a need for any sacrificial behaviour. It must be recognised that there are feelings that are stronger than the will to survive and that there is never a reason worthwhile to follow these feelings.
There is nothing worth dying for!
Jmm 1/2000
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