Need for Dichotomy:

Need for Dichotomy:

Is good without evil even a possibility 

Forgiveness instead of retribution

Fairs sky absent stormy weather

Peace minus the advent of war

Agreement sans debate

Pleasure without pain

Light with no dark

Early and not late

Love without hate

If so how would we know what they are

and how could they then be measured

or understood without the experience.

Reviews

[Archishman Rick]

Every opposing contender in your listed examples owes its meaning and existence to the opposition. Thoughtful poem.

[carl]

thank you for the time to read and review, much appreciated - carl

[Soren]

Philosphical and with deep meaning my friend. All things must have an opposition or they would not exist. Positive charges and negative hold each other in place. Could their be life without death?

[carl]

thanks for the read and review - questions answered - not in this world - just seemed to me this is the way things are and who knows if they could be different. take care and be well - carl

[Relic]

I suppose we wouldn't know good poets from bad poets either. The world is set up for ying and yang I guess. I'll choose the good every time.

[carl]

Thanks for your read and review, I'm with you on choosing the good - I suppose subjectivity plays a part in it somewhere but I chose to ignore that, lol - carl

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

there are two types of people in the world - those who use dichotomies and those who dont. that's a joke my professor used to say. but it gave me a lot to think about. the yin and yan, one exists because of the other. this was a deeply philosophical work, one that raises questions of epistemology. how do we know love without hate? how do we make peace if we don't know war? these questions are certainly something one ought to think deeply about.

[carl]

much appreciate you read and comments, helps me put things in perspective. I believe in a permanent state of peace and pleasure but question if we would know what it was if not coming from or through a state of struggle and pain. Much of my thoughts or questions come from my readings. Again thanks for your input - carl

[Lorry]

Left to our own declines, we would find a difference in others to make ourselves feel superior and excude that difference until there were two tribes fighting for a long forgotten reason, that teaches each new generation mistrust of others and to never leave the safety of your tribe.
Sound a bit familiar?
If there wasn't any differences, it wouldn't be long before we found one.
History is just a way to give us old ideas and change them into new ways to make mistakes.

[carl]

thanks for the read and review - your comments made me think of the song _ One Tin Soldier - always thought it was a pretty accurate portrait of humanity. superior and inferior another Dichotomy could we know one without the other but must we punish or be punished depending on where we or others are positioned or can humility reign - yes I think it can when I consider Gandhi or Mother Teresa or Jesus of Nazareth - I just feel we cannot ignore their presence and in my wondering about the need for dichotomy. again thanks for your insight and comments. -carl

[John the Baptist]

Good point made here. If the entire world was blue, there would be no blue. You must have contrast.

[carl]

Thanks for the read and review, much appreciated -carl