Posted: Fri 15 Jun 2007 13:39 Post subject: To Be Feared Or Loved
To Be Feared Or Loved
(philosophical question)
Is it better to be feared or loved if one is a political leader or a member of society? This is a serious question that demands an answer. We all want to be loved and admired by our friends, family, society, and co-workers. But reality is that humans have no problems offending one whom they love but fear offending a person they fear. When people love it is they who have the option to show love towards other people. But when people fear you because you can make them suffer then it is you who have the power to determine how you will be treated. Therefore, due to the imperfections of human nature it is better to be feared than loved because a person who is feared can some day be loved. But a person who is loved and not feared seldom reaches the level of being feared by the many he encounters. It would be nice to be loved and feared but living among humans verifies that one or the other will always be more dominant. It is, therefore, better to be feared.
With all of the evil taking place in society I wonder whether or not it is better to be feared than loved.
Being feared most of the time keeps certain evils away. Therefore, you are safe at that particular moment I assume it is better to be feared and loved at the sametime but it is seldom possible for both to manifest all the time at the sametime. Some situations you are feared, in others situations you loved, and in some situations and circumstances you are feared and loved. This is, a deep question because your moral standards come into play also. If people fear you all the time would it make you feel morally guilty for unintentionally striking fear in the heart of others because of your position of power, association with certain people whom can inflict pain, or you look intimidating etc. But yet you don't want to be mistreated by society either, and the more you are loved well people in society on average have no problem offending those they love. But these same people often will think twice about offending someone they fear.
Joined: 19 Jan 2006 {Posts: 185 } Location: Southern California
Posted: Fri 15 Jun 2007 15:02 Post subject:
Better to be feared or loved…a complex question indeed. I don’t really have any answers to this one. It only raises even further questions.
Quote:
Being feared most of the time keeps certain evils away
Perhaps to a certain extent this may very well be so. But this also raises the following question: What if the individual being feared is the one who is actually perpetrating said “evils” (however we define “evils”). On a world basis, of course, the notion of the totalitarian dictator comes to mind (Hitler, Pol Pot,…etc). On a more personal level we have, say, the physically/emotionally abusive parent in which the children are forever walking on eggshells for fear of “setting them off”. In both instances, where is the breaking point? Even among individuals who are “feared” there do exist others who have “had enough” and are tired of always being afraid…and hence try to rectify the situation (e.g. attempted overthrow of dictator or actual murder of the abusive parent [we hear about these things quite often in the news!])
Quote:
Some situations you are feared, in others situations you loved, and in some situations and circumstances you are feared and loved. This is, a deep question because your moral standards come into play also. If people fear you all the time would it make you feel morally guilty for unintentionally striking fear in the heart of others because of your position of power, association with certain people whom can inflict pain, or you look intimidating etc.
It almost seems as though, in a roundabout way, you might be alluding to the concept of respect. Only speaking personally here, but if we truly love and respect another then we really wouldn’t want to intentionally hurt that other person. Personally, I would rather have earned respect rather than “respect” out of fear. In the former instance, I believe that there is more of a possibility of actually being loved as well.
Quote:
But yet you don't want to be mistreated by society either, and the more you are loved well people in society on average have no problem offending those they love.
Perhaps so. However it appears that although the particular person may be "loved", he obviously isn’t respected.
Quote:
But these same people often will think twice about offending someone they fear.
Yup, but just wait until this “totally feared” individual comes upon some “bad karma”. Even if this "someone" is not a perpetrator of "evils"I still wonder how many of us would just love to “kick him while he’s down” (not to mention the associated schadenfreude). If said individual were respected I wouldn’t be too surprised if more people would sympathize with his/her misfortune and might even offer assistance.
Anyways, these are my own personal ramblings. Good topic Perhaps others may have a more clear-cut answer to this one, LOL.
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Perhaps others may have a more clear-cut answer to this one, LOL.