Which World Do You See?
It’s easy to focus on competition. We’re told it brings out the best of us. That it’s the way of nature and the world. That it promotes innovation and excellence.
However, nobody notices cooperation, and I would argue it contributes far more.
When scientists look at bones they point out the first evidence a species has begun to truly evolve into an intelligent species as a mended broken bone.
Why? Because in a harsh, competitive natural world this small sign shows that an organism made a choice not to abandon its hurt cohort for slowing it down, but to stay and assist them until they healed. That small act shows a level of social connection that leads to larger groups working together to survive. I would argue it is this cooperation that ultimately led to humanity’s domination of an otherwise cruelly competitive world.
Even in the vaunted halls of capitalism, which everyone hails for its competitive nature, the ultimate goal for those in play isn’t a pure competitive field. It’s a quiet oligarchy, holding power and price points in the hands of a few small brands who tacitly cooperate in order to stifle any competition or losses while sharing power amongst themselves. Folks may argue that’s not how capitalism should operate, but I imagine they’d be hard pressed to find any evidence it hasn’t largely shaken out that way.
On the flip side cooperation amongst the disenfranchised - the rebels, the laborers, the minorities, the poor - has led to uprisings as people have pushed for higher standards and basic human rights for centuries. It’s not competition that drives these groups - they’re not aiming for best or better than. They’re aiming for equal.
So say what you will for the glories of competition. I’d argue it’s the power of cooperation that truly drives the world forward.
But then again it’s your choice - which world do you see?
We Sit
we sit
looking out at the mountains
or across the lake
or over the bright meadow flowers
or into the depths of the trees,
and all we do is what we need to survive
and breathe
and connect with the flow
of the universe
because with no competition,
there's no need to prove ourselves,
no need to gain,
no need for pride or greed or pain
so we sit
A World Without Competition
Impossible
Unimaginable
Competition is the very matter
Of the current world where we live
Without competition
Anarchy
No leaders, no guidance
Money doesn't exist
No shops
No groceries
No smartphones
How could I even write this?
Although you don't realise it
Competition is everything in this modern day
You just have to be a good competitor
A World Without
I wish we could have a world without competition but I don't think it would work. Humans will always have complaints that strike a feud with another that will spark a competition to be the best. Don't get me wrong, I dislike competition but only sometimes, it can be good for you. Look at it this way, the girl you like in class is also liked by your worst nemesis, it forces you to act your best and work your best to earn her heart instead, which means you bring more happiness to the world, especially when you earn her heart instead of your nemesis. But if you win her heart it will strike another feud with the nemesis. If you were to shake hands and be done with it it would be so much better. In ways competition is bad though, for instance during the great depression there was little money or food, there were competitions and some people died of hunger because of them. I suppose I wish we could have a world with only helpful and respectful competitions.