Wednesday, January 7, 2009

What happens if Man gets jaded and frustrated with life?

He takes on an armour of defenses and uses his deceitful tongue in battle.

Such is my Otosan.

We had another of those disagreements and squabbles again.

His assertion?

"Accept the way I think or just shut up."

He's always saying " Wait till to get into the real world and go through all the tough things in life, and meet really screwed-up people, than you'll know!!"

"Even dogs are better than humans since they are more obedient, never bear grudges, and are faithfully loyal.

Well, my stand against all that would be simple. Here's a logical explanation:

Theory of Mind.

While humans have this ability to reason and to have the "I-ness" quotient, or what we refer to as a soul/conscience, they are able to make their own decisions and act on their own volition.

Dogs on the other hand, or animals and the like, unfortunately, are not particularly developed in this particular faculty.

Obedience in their case, would represent Subservience instead.

sub⋅ser⋅vi⋅ent [suhb-sur-vee-uhnt]
adjective
1. compliant and obedient to authority

In other words, one can technically, and explicitly impose their will upon dogs. And yes indeed, Mr Otosan does not have a problem with doing that and neither does Mr Pet Dog have a issue with accepting it.

Secondly, grudges cannot be something that they are mentally able to process since they have the inability to reason on an individual level.

Lastly, loyalty to a human is decision-based; meaning that it is decided by the will. On the other hand, loyalty merely refers to dependency from dogs, as there is a deep attachment to the familiarity to their owner's habits and smell; as such, they are inrevocably drawn to their owners.

How is it possible, then, for humans to be compared to dogs from a moralistic perspective?

My Otosan's statment on this has left me shaking my head in disagreement, and left in beguilement.

From a psychological perspective, this statement sheds light on certain issues that he may be having in his life.

- A frustration with the things of the world, pent-up anger towards the inability to express one's own perceptions, aggravated by the oppression he is possibly facing at work.

-A lack of trust, or a firm security in the things in his life. E.g. "You constantly need to possess, strive and grab things before you, lest' you lose everything.

-The lack of clarity of his values. While it may appear crystal clear to his eyes, he has in fact only seen what he wanted to see, refusing to believe that he can be taught further, and then choosing to blindfold himself from further ideas.

Experience plays a part in determining his way of life and his principle and perceptions, however its clarity and feasibility can be contested if he remains dissatisfied and bitter, and generally unhappy towards life. In short, his joys are often shortlived and fleeting, whilst suffering and oppression is excruciatingly long and arduous.

How can he break through this and how many I help him?

I continually struggle and contend with him in this aspect, and keep remembering that I will seek Life in its very essence.

IKUZO~!!

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