Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

No but if I have a strong desire to kill an enemy I could invent something to make me better at killing.

All modern military technology and the technology that spawned from it such as the Saturn V or the hydrogen bomb were invented because of the desire to inflict violence on an enemy. Creativity is a tool; violence, hatred and competition is a driving force.

That is not to discount empathy and altruism as driving forces but to ignore hatred and violence as things that have human shaped progress (and improved society technologically) is to ignore reality.



Defensive weapons are not developed out of a desire to inflict violence, but out of a desire to have the ability to inflict violence. It is a tremendously important but subtle distinction. One is a desire for violence and the other is a desire to avoid violence.


Thats what everyone says nowadays. Both sides of a conflict build weapons for "defense." Sort of like how my gun nut dad owns 4 different types of guns for "defense."


I own a lot more than 4 different types of guns and I have a strong desire to avoid shooting any living thing. Your example doesn’t hold up.


People are contradictory. And you are not an exception. You don't buy guns to kill. But you wouldn't buy those guns if those guns were incapable of killing. You don't buy bb guns.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: