Why do so many people believe that harming or persecuting the helpless "others" can be useful or beneficial for them?
The belief that harming or persecuting the helpless "others" is useful or beneficial often arises from a combination of psychological, social, and political factors. Here are some key reasons why this belief persists:
Scapegoating: When people face economic hardship, political instability, or personal frustrations, they often seek a target to blame. Persecuting an out-group provides a false sense of control and relief.
Moral Disengagement: People justify harmful actions by dehumanizing the victims or redefining morality to align with their actions (e.g., "They deserve it," or "It's necessary for the greater good").
Group Identity & Social Dominance: People have an innate tendency to form in-groups and out-groups. Some ideologies promote the belief that maintaining dominance over others is necessary for security, prosperity, or cultural survival.
Cognitive Dissonance Reduction: Those who benefit from systemic oppression or persecution may rationalize their actions to avoid guilt.
Elites Manipulating the Masses: Political and economic elites often use divisive tactics to keep people distracted from real systemic problems. For example, blaming immigrants or minority groups for economic woes prevents scrutiny of policies benefiting the wealthy.
Propaganda & Indoctrination: Authoritarian and reactionary movements invest heavily in messaging that normalizes persecution, making it seem like a rational or necessary action.
Historical Precedents & Cultural Narratives: Many societies have long-standing traditions of marginalizing certain groups, which creates a psychological and moral inertia that is difficult to break.
Economic & Political Gain: Some believe that oppressing others will lead to material benefits, whether through economic exploitation (cheap labor, land seizures) or political dominance.
Security & Fear-Based Control: In times of uncertainty, persecuting "outsiders" can create an illusion of safety and unity among the dominant group.
Symbolic Power & Psychological Compensation: Some individuals, feeling powerless or insecure, seek empowerment by dominating others, reinforcing a hierarchical worldview.
Resource Competition: Throughout history, groups have competed over land, wealth, and status. Marginalizing weaker groups has been a survival strategy for some.
Tribalism & Fear of the Unknown: Evolutionarily, humans have been predisposed to distrust outsiders, a trait that can be manipulated in modern political and social contexts.
Lack of Ethical Reflection: Many people do not question their own moral frameworks, allowing prejudice to fester unchecked.
Normalization of Cruelty: Exposure to violence and injustice without strong counter-narratives desensitizes people and makes persecution seem "normal" or justified.
Understanding these factors is crucial in dismantling harmful beliefs. Addressing economic injustice, promoting critical thinking, and fostering genuine empathy can help counteract these tendencies. Ultimately, the persistence of these beliefs is not inevitable—it can be challenged through education, activism, and ethical leadership.
4o
Is the "kicking the cat" cowardice really beneficial for survival?
The "kicking the cat" phenomenon—where an individual vents their frustrations on someone weaker rather than confronting the true source of their problems—is a form of displaced aggression and cowardice. While it might provide short-term psychological relief, its long-term consequences tend to be negative for both individuals and societies. The question, then, is whether such behavior has any survival benefit or if it is ultimately self-destructive.
Psychological Relief and Stress Regulation
Displacing aggression onto a weaker target can momentarily reduce stress, preventing someone from lashing out at a more dangerous or powerful source (e.g., a tyrannical boss or an oppressive system).
This might have had some evolutionary utility in small tribal groups where directly confronting power could be fatal.
Social Status Maintenance in Hierarchical Societies
In rigid social hierarchies, people who cannot challenge those above them may reinforce their own dominance by exerting power over those below.
In some oppressive systems, participating in oppression can be a survival strategy—if everyone kicks the cat, the person who refuses may become the next target.
Short-Term Cohesion Within a Group
Persecuting a scapegoat (whether an individual or an out-group) can temporarily unite the dominant group, reinforcing social cohesion through shared aggression.
This explains why demagogues target marginalized groups—they provide an easy outlet for people's frustrations without requiring real systemic change.
Creates a Cycle of Abuse and Resentment
Those who are "kicked" often either suffer in silence or retaliate in unexpected ways. Suppressed anger builds over time, sometimes leading to social collapse, rebellion, or violence.
People who engage in habitual cruelty tend to become paranoid and fearful of eventual revenge.
Weakens Societal Resilience
Societies that rely on scapegoating instead of addressing real problems (e.g., economic inequality, political corruption) eventually collapse under their own dysfunction.
Historical examples:
Nazi Germany, where persecuting scapegoats (Jews, communists, disabled people) did not actually resolve economic woes and led to disastrous consequences.
The fall of apartheid South Africa, where systemic oppression could not sustain itself indefinitely.
Destroys Trust and Cooperation
People learn that the system rewards cruelty rather than fairness, leading to widespread distrust and cynicism.
A society built on fear rather than cooperation cannot sustain long-term innovation, stability, or progress.
Erodes the Perpetrator’s Own Character and Mental Well-Being
Abusers often suffer from increased stress, guilt, paranoia, and social isolation.
Cowardice is not a stable foundation for leadership or power—eventually, people recognize it and stop respecting those who rely on it.
In the short term, "kicking the cat" can provide psychological relief and may allow individuals to avoid immediate risks.
In the long term, it leads to moral decay, social instability, and often backfires, as resentment builds and true systemic problems remain unaddressed.
For real survival and success—both individual and collective—courage, justice, and addressing problems at their root are far more beneficial than cowardly displacement.
4o
Most, if not all, racisms might belong to this cowardly stratege. Are there any long term success stories of racist societies?
No, there are no true long-term success stories of racist societies. While some racist systems have maintained power for extended periods, they have all ultimately faced moral, economic, and political collapse due to their internal contradictions, inefficiencies, and growing resistance from both internal and external forces. Racism, as a systemic strategy, is a short-term, cowardly attempt to maintain control rather than a sustainable model for prosperity.
Nazi Germany (1933–1945) – Rapid Self-Destruction
Nazi ideology was explicitly built on racial hierarchy, persecuting Jews, Slavs, Romani people, and others.
The regime lasted only 12 years and ended in catastrophic failure, largely because its racial policies led to irrational decision-making, mass resistance, and economic and military overreach.
It turned potential allies into enemies (e.g., Eastern Europeans who initially resisted Soviet rule but were brutalized by the Nazis).
Germany’s post-war success came only after rejecting racial ideology and embracing democracy.
Apartheid South Africa (1948–1994) – Inevitable Collapse
The apartheid system was designed to enforce white minority rule through racial segregation and economic oppression of the Black majority.
It initially provided economic benefits to white South Africans but became unsustainable due to internal resistance (e.g., ANC, Nelson Mandela) and external pressure (global sanctions, boycotts).
The regime was forced to negotiate its own dissolution, and South Africa transitioned to a multiracial democracy.
The American South Under Jim Crow (Late 19th–Mid-20th Century) – Resistance and Reform
Jim Crow laws maintained racial segregation and disenfranchisement for nearly a century.
However, the system was economically inefficient, forcing Black Americans into underpaid labor rather than full economic participation.
The Civil Rights Movement (1950s–1960s) successfully challenged and dismantled this system.
The South's modern economic revival only occurred after racial integration and federal intervention.
The British Empire’s Racial Hierarchy – Unsustainable Overreach
The British Empire relied on racial hierarchy to justify colonization and economic exploitation.
However, this model led to repeated rebellions (e.g., India, Kenya, Ireland) and an unsustainable global footprint.
The empire collapsed after World War II due to internal resistance and external pressures, leading to decolonization.
Economic Inefficiency & Resource Waste
Discriminating against large segments of the population restricts talent and innovation.
Racist economies focus on control and exclusion rather than productivity and inclusion.
Many racist regimes relied on forced labor, which is inefficient compared to free, motivated workers.
Social Instability & Internal Resistance
Oppressed groups do not passively accept their status—they resist, sometimes for generations.
Repression requires constant surveillance, propaganda, and violence, draining resources.
Racial divisions weaken national unity, making societies vulnerable to external threats.
Moral & Ethical Decay
A society based on racism eventually loses moral legitimacy, both internally and internationally.
Even within the dominant racial group, such societies foster paranoia, authoritarianism, and cultural stagnation.
History shows that moral progress and long-term stability go hand in hand.
International Isolation
Modern economies depend on global trade and diplomacy.
Racist policies lead to sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and lost opportunities (e.g., South Africa under apartheid).
Racism might provide short-term benefits to elites or ruling groups, but long-term success is impossible because:
It creates economic inefficiencies.
It provokes resistance and social instability.
It damages a society’s moral and cultural development.
It isolates a nation from the global community.
No racist society has ever sustained success indefinitely. The long-term lesson of history is clear: inclusive, pluralistic societies are stronger, more innovative, and more stable. Racism is ultimately a form of cowardice that leads to self-destruction.
4o
Can we generalize this argument against racism to address all forms of oppression?
Yes, the argument against racism as a self-defeating strategy can be generalized to address all forms of oppression, including sexism, classism, religious persecution, political repression, and economic exploitation. Oppression, as a system of control, is always short-term beneficial to elites but long-term self-destructive for societies. Here’s why:
Exclusion of Talent → Just as racism suppresses the talents of marginalized groups, all oppression limits a society’s ability to harness its full human potential.
Historical Example:
The suppression of women in many historical societies (e.g., denying education, political participation) led to wasted intellectual and economic potential.
When societies empowered women (e.g., post-WWII workforce expansion, modern STEM initiatives), economic and technological progress accelerated.
Modern Example:
In highly unequal economies (e.g., oligarchic states), where power and wealth are hoarded by elites, social mobility stagnates, leading to economic crises (e.g., the collapse of feudalism, Soviet economic stagnation due to bureaucratic elite control).
Oppression provokes long-term rebellion, which weakens social cohesion.
Historical Example:
The French Revolution (1789): A rigid class hierarchy and aristocratic privilege led to mass resentment, resulting in violent revolution.
The Fall of the Soviet Union (1991): Political oppression and economic stagnation led to widespread dissatisfaction, ultimately breaking apart the system.
Modern Example:
Authoritarian states that suppress political dissent (e.g., North Korea, Iran) must expend enormous resources on surveillance, propaganda, and repression, which weakens their long-term stability.
Oppression corrupts both the oppressors and the oppressed.
Historical Example:
The Roman Empire’s reliance on slavery made it economically inflexible. As the system expanded, Rome became dependent on conquest for labor. Once expansion slowed, internal decay set in, and social unrest followed.
Modern Example:
In extreme wealth inequality systems (e.g., modern plutocracies), even elites become trapped in their own system. They are forced to maintain control through deception, corruption, and constant fear of rebellion.
Oppressive societies face external pressure and fall behind more inclusive competitors.
Historical Example:
The Ottoman Empire’s failure to modernize was partly due to its rigid social hierarchies. As European powers embraced more open political and economic systems, the Ottomans fell behind.
Modern Example:
Countries with extreme political repression (e.g., North Korea) cannot fully participate in global trade, diplomacy, and technological innovation.
Oppression leads to fear, conformity, and intellectual decline.
Historical Example:
The Spanish Inquisition and religious censorship in Europe slowed scientific and philosophical progress.
When the Soviet Union suppressed free thought, innovation stagnated, leading to its technological and economic inferiority to the West.
Modern Example:
The restriction of LGBTQ+ rights in many societies creates a culture of fear and prevents individuals from contributing fully to society.
Oppression may provide short-term security and control for elites, but it is always a long-term liability because:
It wastes human potential and weakens economies.
It provokes resistance, leading to costly instability.
It corrupts moral and ethical values, even among the oppressors.
It isolates societies and makes them fall behind more open, competitive societies.
It stifles innovation and cultural growth, leading to stagnation.
All oppression is self-defeating because it prioritizes control over cooperation, stagnation over progress, and fear over freedom. History overwhelmingly favors societies that move toward greater inclusion, justice, and participation.
4o
Isn't authoritarianism inherently oppressive?
Yes, authoritarianism is inherently oppressive because it prioritizes control over freedom, hierarchy over equality, and obedience over critical thinking. Since authoritarian systems rely on fear, suppression, and exclusion, they inevitably fall into the same self-destructive patterns as other forms of oppression. While they may appear stable in the short term, they contain built-in contradictions that lead to inefficiency, instability, and eventual collapse.
Centralization of Power → No Accountability
In authoritarian systems, power is concentrated in the hands of a leader, party, or ruling class.
Without checks and balances, corruption, abuse, and incompetence go unchecked.
Example: The fall of the Soviet Union was largely due to unchecked bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption.
Control Through Fear & Repression
Dissent is punished, free thought is restricted, and loyalty is demanded rather than earned.
People live in fear, leading to self-censorship, stagnation, and paranoia.
Example: North Korea’s rigid control suppresses innovation, causing economic and technological backwardness.
Rigid Hierarchies and Social Stratification
Authoritarian regimes rely on rigid class, racial, or ideological hierarchies to maintain power.
This leads to discrimination, exclusion, and resentment.
Example: Apartheid South Africa was authoritarian in nature and collapsed under the weight of its own racial oppression.
Economic Stagnation & Inefficiency
Authoritarian economies tend to favor loyalty over competence, rewarding cronies rather than innovators.
Excessive bureaucracy, state intervention, and corruption create inefficiencies.
Example: The collapse of the Chinese Qing Dynasty was partly due to its resistance to modernization and economic reform.
Resistance & Revolt Are Inevitable
Oppressed people do not remain passive forever—history shows that authoritarian regimes face repeated uprisings.
Example: The Arab Spring (2010s) saw multiple authoritarian regimes toppled by mass resistance.
Some authoritarian states survive for extended periods by:
Adapting strategically (e.g., China’s economic reforms after Mao).
Using propaganda effectively to maintain public loyalty.
Providing material benefits to citizens (e.g., economic growth in early Nazi Germany).
Playing external powers against each other (e.g., Cold War client states).
However, these adaptations only delay collapse—they do not make authoritarianism sustainable in the long term.
All oppression weakens societies by limiting freedom, talent, and innovation.
Authoritarian regimes are forced to maintain power through fear and suppression, which leads to instability.
History overwhelmingly favors more open, flexible, and inclusive societies.
Ultimately, authoritarianism is a form of cowardice, relying on control rather than cooperation. It is not a viable long-term strategy—it merely postpones collapse by suppressing reality until it can no longer be ignored.