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comment by b_b
b_b  ·  3945 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning, by Haruki Murakami

Oh man, you beat me to it. Was crafting a reply a bit ago, then my friend stopped in to get lunch, and I lost my train of thought.

Basically, here's what I have to say:

    ...the idea of a soul mate (or 100% perfect girl) is just a myth.

This could just as easily say, "The idea of any construct of language is just a myth." Language and philosophy help us make sense of the world. Basing one's ideas on how humans should act based on what we've done historically and prehistorically (even if it's based on so called 'biology') is no standard by which to live. Should we rape, because that was once how procreation took place? Should we kill to satisfy our property and food needs? Should we force women into harems and ferociously guard them like a beachmaster seal?

Civility is diametrically opposed to our carnal nature. That's literally the entire point, overcoming one's baser instincts to work together to have a better life. We can argue about whether there is a perfect person for everyone, but to argue from a standpoint of "we didn't evolve to do this" misses the greatest thing about being human. Which is to say, we now have a freedom to choose.