Is ‘harm none’ just another way to harm ourselves?

Some people believe that in order to live their lives blame free they should stick to the rede of ‘harm none’ – but is it really possible to do that and still look out for ourselves? If we spend all our time worrying about whether an action we take is going to impact negatively on another, are we sacrificing our own self interest? Why should we make martyrs of ourselves in order to spare another person’s blushes? The answer is that we shouldn’t. The Darwinian principle of Natural Selection is well known, and it’s also dead accurate. Emphasis on the word ‘dead’. Those who can’t compete in life are pushed to the side and slowly phased out – if we spend all our time looking out for others, it’s just possible that we won’t see the oncoming truck and WHAM – no more us.

At what point does ‘harm none’ become impossible to adhere to?

In an ideal world perhaps we’d be able to do what we like with no fear of the consequences. In this world we have to wonder if what we do today is going to come back and bite us on the backside in six months time. Perhaps in an ideal society we’d be able to look out for people without thinking about it, perhaps kind deeds and words would become the norm and not just a fairy tale. Trouble is, we’re not in an ideal society by any stretch of the imagination.

If we try to conduct our lives whilst causing as little harm or stress to others as possible, then we end up causing more anxiety to ourselves. That can’t be right. Although it’s generally frowned upon to ‘look out for No. 1’ perhaps that’s just how it ought to be. In the wild animals work together for the good of their herd or pack, and that works even though the odd individual might suffer as a result. Humans are social animals too, and although we can work together admirably to achieve a goal, people will still suffer.

The truth is that, a handful of twisted individuals aside, most people wouldn’t dream of doing something that they know will cause another person to suffer – not when it counts, anyway. Yes, we push each other to the side, and competitiveness might lead to someone getting indirectly hurt along the way – but isn’t that the whole point of the race for survival?

25/02/2004 ©