Dunkirk - Our Perception of Human Value - War

Today I watched a movie about war. Everybody has seen movies like this and probably share the same theme of thoughts. The horrid, macabre, and explicit pain of human beings is stiffening. It really is hard to phantom what would it feel like to be in real danger for your life. Some of us have gone through hardships, probably seen things that you wouldn't wish on anyone; however, watching a cinematic depiction of what mass killings look like is humbling. Most of these "men" are kids in their early twenties knowing not much about life but what they have been told. Each of them is playing a hero role for the side they are defending. Some were forced to the position of hero, while others voluntarily filled it thinking they are fulfilling a duty to their nation.

Watching some of the scenes in the movie allowed me to step into what could possibly feel like a complete acceptance of an inevitable death. Since most of the scenes take place on sea, the eminent threat of drowning was ever present. Arguably one of the most feared ways of dying. The trauma, the coping, and the embracing that human brains go through is almost unimaginable.

Regardless of all the pain that one may feel, whether it is physical or mental, how much of this actually means something? A far-fetched question, undoubtedly. Through history humans have been used as pawns in wars that try to settle conflicting interests of small groups of people. Piles of humans have literally formed with little to no effect in the grand scheme of things. Nothing but statistics and data about the amount of calculated or average deaths that happen through war. Not even considering the huge amount of civilian deaths that happen throughout.

Watching a movie about war will likely make the spectator relate to certain characters. Somehow their well-being is worth more for the spectator as we develop a sense of understanding for this person. A small peek into the context of one's story can change behaviors and predispositions in a major way. This is shown in these movies when thousands of soldiers die on screen but nobody bats an eye. Is as if the story and context behind these people is not relevant and they are just background characters. In the real world, how much does this happen? It happens everyday with every single person that dies at war, at violence, or that goes through any other traumatic experience.

We can all agree that those are horrible things and that the world would be a better place without them. But its interesting that we are all capable of moving on from this information as long as it doesn't affect you or someone closed to you. In a way, this is okay as all deaths hold their own value to the people who find some in it; but, in the end of the day it makes zero difference in a completely objective "cosmic" perspective.

I guess it all comes down to how our empathetic systems work. Certain criteria must be met before we can put ourselves in the shoes of others. This might even hint toward why we are more helpful to people to resemble us. Probably tackling an intrinsic flaw in human nature derived from hundreds of years of evolution within homogeneous demographics.

Just interesting thoughts I wanted to put into words. If you enjoyed don't hesitate in upvoting and following :).