Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Conflict: Definition

I would like to pay attention on a different meanings of only one simple word - "conflict".
A word "conflict" can be realized in many different aspects. For example it could be realized as a state of open, often prolonged fighting; a battle or war that happens between countries. During these kind of conflicts hundreds and thousands of people have been slaughtered in whole world. In my opinion mankind should avoid that kind of disputes.
"A conflict also exists when two people wish to carry out acts which are mutually inconsistent. They may both want to do the same thing, such as eat the same apple, or they may want to do different things where the different things are mutually incompatible, such as when they both want to stay together but one wants to go to the cinema and the other to stay at home".(M.Nicholson: Rationality and the Analysis of International Conflict. 1992:11) Such gentle conflict can be resolved when some mutually compatible set of actions is worked out. They are not dangerous, though you don't know what may happen if for example on of the two people is intoxicated or similar.
In poetry a conflict is opposition between characters or forces in a work of drama or fiction, especially opposition that motivates or shapes the action of the plot. Following conflict is not dangerous as it is contrived.