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The character Ender states, "Everything has to pay a price to exist, even human communities." Do you agree or disagree? If you agree what do you think is the price we pay for existence?

I disagree and think it is too simplistic a view. People don't just do things for their usefulness and expedience, but for other reasons as well such as love or moral obligation. I have a dog because I love animals and not just because he does anything I can gain from.

Great point! @gali It reminds me of the argument that nothing we do can ever be considered selfless because we always gain from our acts in some way. I hate this cynical view of humanity.

bluemel4 wrote:Great point! @gali It reminds me of the argument that nothing we do can ever be considered selfless because we always gain from our acts in some way. I hate this cynical view of humanity.

I agree with the previous posts. I wish that I had something more to contribute to the discussion, but Gali and Bluemel have said it all

gali wrote:

bluemel4 wrote:Great point! @gali It reminds me of the argument that nothing we do can ever be considered selfless because we always gain from our acts in some way. I hate this cynical view of humanity.

We often find that whatever we give tends to come back to us.

Vermont Reviews

If you are willing to argue that consequences of existence are a price paid for the privilege, this statement makes sense. However, since existence is a fact and not a choice (because a chooser must exist first in order to make a choice), the statement doesn't jive. Consequences, both positive and negative, are complicated and ripple effects make entities and events inextricably intertwined. In that sense, every entity and event comes with a cost, but it isn't a fair system of evaluation. The fullness of consequence can only be speculated and there are severe limits on advance knowledge of these "costs" prior to the advent of any thing or situation. In short, I'm no fan of the statement.

In regard to the human communities referred to in the original statement, I do agree that there is a price to pay to *continue* to exist. Communities have to have rules for each of their members to coexist (peacefully, successfully, profitably, etc.), otherwise there would be chaos. In this example, the price to pay would be making the rules a priority over personal preference in order to move toward the goal, whatever the goal of the community is.

I don't agree, though, that everything has to pay a price to exist in the first place. L_Therese put it nicely.

Maybe the "cost" of existence is paid by our moms?

I do think that every action has a reaction, and choosing to go down one path means giving up the other. Also, people are so intertwined nowadays that purchasing one brand over another can determine whether or not someone in another country will have a job or not. So even the little things that we do in our own communities affect people in communities far away from us.

katiesquilts wrote:Maybe the "cost" of existence is paid by our moms?

I do think that every action has a reaction, and choosing to go down one path means giving up the other. Also, people are so intertwined nowadays that purchasing one brand over another can determine whether or not someone in another country will have a job or not. So even the little things that we do in our own communities affect people in communities far away from us.

Very well said.

Vermont Reviews

I think the price for existence is the trials and hardships we go through in life. There seems to be something we need to overcome whether it be depression, addiction, abuse, financial hardship and so many other things that come with simply existing. Some people go through a hardship of being discriminated against for the color of their skin, gendet, sexual orientation, nationality and even religion. Things that can't be helped, they are being punished for.

I like what Katiesquilt said about the littlest of things we do in a community goes a long way or changes a person's life. We don't think about how our actions can effect the life of our neighbors.

Life and time is a price we pay. The dwindling down of our existence and everything we encounter because of living.

It made sense the way it was discussed in the book. We do all pay a price to exist. I mean, we can't just sit around and do nothing in order to survive. Even as just instinctual beings, we have to find food and water to survive. That could even be considered a price to pay for living.

Piggybacking on what katiesquilts said, therapist explain that any single change changes everything. In other words, anything we do that is different than what we have done in the past elicits a change by others who have experienced our past actions. This requires them to change something they are doing, cascading to others as well.

There is a "price" to pay if we are to live in society. We are social beings and, therefore, it is difficult for us not to commune with others. As such, there are some norms that are expected from us if we are to continue to be part of that group. Therefore, besides just the price of staying alive, we also pay a price to be.

I completely disagree. This view is very close minded and dull.