Krystin Harrington

A3

Competition generally yields results of a winner and a loser. The winner is thus rewarded
and the intention is that the loser will try harder the next time, and improve some aspect of
themselves. Essentially, competition is a means to an end, and the end goal is growth. However,
competition does not necessarily have to be a conscious motivator. Darwins Theory of
Evolution, The Great Space Race, and playing on a little league all involve some form of
competition, yielding various results from all parties involved.
From the beginning of human existence, we have followed one law: Survival of the
Fittest. This was as true 2,000 years ago as it is today. Humans choose mates in life with what
they consider to be the most desirable genes to pass on to future generations. These traits may
include physical fitness or lack of a disorder or disease. In this way, finding a spouse is a form of
competition, in which the most apt will typically win. This is extremely beneficial because, over
time, undesirable genes are weeded out through natural selection. Looking at this through a
Utilitarian Approach, the end justifies the means. Yes, there will be more desirable partners as
well as less desirable partners, and those who do not procreate may end up feeling perpetually
insecure and anxious, as Alfie Kohn contends. However, the result is a better, stronger, healthier
future generation, and that must be attained through any means necessary.
During the Cold War, America and Russia competed against each other in the Great
Space Race to the moon. It was a competition of resources and skill. The country to get the first
man on the moon would be the one with the most wealth and the most innovative thinkers.
Ultimately, America was the first country to achieve this feat, proving its superiority over Russia.
In response, the Unites States was able to learn more about space travel and spacecraft building,
furthering both our knowledge and resources. Indeed, Americas success was partially due to
Russias failure; however, there was gradual improvement of U.S.-Soviet relations in the late
Cold War-era when U.S. astronauts went into space aboard a Soviet made vehicle.
2016, contemporary America is obsessed with not just equity of opportunity, but absolute
equality. For instance, many little league baseball teams have implemented an everyone gets a
trophy policy. At the end of the game, no one wins or loses. Rather, everyone gets a
participation trophy. This environment, where competition does not exist, leads children to
perform under their ability, while failing to teach the players sportsmanship. On a larger scale, it
gives them a false sense of what life will be like, deluding them into thinking that competition
does not exist and that putting in even a minimal amount of effort will earn you a participation
trophy.
Healthy competition is not something that should be stifled or prevented. Accordingly,
healthy competition leads to growth and is not necessarily always unhealthy, as Kohn claims,
as Kohn claims, as Kohn claims, as Kohn claims, as Kohn claims. It can be either conscious- tee
ball, space race, unconscious, or somewhere in the middle- natural selection. The end justifies
the means; and therefore, it is something that should be encouraged.