Humans are in a unique position because of our advanced brains. At some point in our evolution, our minds surpassed the mental capacity of every other animal on the planet. The result was increased survivability due to innovation, cooperation, and increased adaption. The trend continued, eventually leading us to our situation today: sophisticated social behavior and cooperation that has allowed us to achieve amazing feats. Every modern comfort that we take for granted is amazing if we look at it from a primitive perspective. A book, for example, requires paper, printers, and binding (a process that uses machines that are amazing in their own right). Books are filled with a written form of our language (a language that is complex and precise), and whoever can read the words learns the thoughts of the author—thoughts that range from trashy vampire-romance novels to calculus equations and theories. Humans perfectly illustrate “the law of Mutual Aid,” and prove Kropotkin’s observations that “[cooperation], for the success of the struggle for life, and especially for the progressive evolution of the species, is far more important than the law of mutual contest.”[1] Ridley made a similar observation, stating that "the most successful animals, indeed, seemed to be the most cooperative." [2.5]In fact, we have eliminated all of our natural competitors, increased the carrying capacities of our environments, and create comforts for ourselves to such dazzling extremes that we disgust each other.
BUILDINGS ALWAYS REMIND ME OF WHAT PEOPLE ACCOMPLISH WHEN THEY WORK TOGETHER.
SCENES LIKE THIS REMIND ME THAT I AM NON-ESSENTIAL PART OF THE UNIVERSE.
Sometimes when I feel particularly small (usually after stargazing in a place without light pollution), I realize how pointless everything we do is. Life, and by life I mean the contorted and self-constraining form that we have created for ourselves, is a constant struggle for something we don’t quite understand: happiness. Even those who are in a position to gain happiness tend to redefine it until what they have isn’t even close to enough. The Milky Way has the unnerving ability to show me how stupid everything is. That homework assignment, grades, money; all of it will go away when I die, and even the memory of my existence will fade away as the people that loved me die. The entire human race will eventually die from something random and pointless, like a meteor or the sun exploding, and everything that everyone thought was so important will fizzle out in some alien’s night sky.
ALTHOUGH THIS IS A RIDICULOUS SCENARIO, IT WOULD BE THE PERFECT END TO OUR STRANGE EXISTENCE.
During these moments I find that I lose my competitive drive. It is at these times that I realize my true biological purpose, that my function is to “[reproduce] genes, and serve as their temporary carrier.”[2] I revel in the absurdity of life. Seriously—sometimes I even laugh. However, this state of mind does not last for very long. Eventually I realize that even if happiness is merely chemicals being released in my brain, even if all of my hard work and the gratification it brings is pointless, these things I do are enjoyable, and I may as well enjoy it. I yearn for the small voice that Carnagie mentions; I want it to whisper those exact words. “he…is soothed and sustained by the still, small voice within, which, whispering, tells him that, because he has lived, perhaps one small part of the great world has been bettered just a little.”[3] If I do fight, if I claw or suffer, it is because I realize that even though life is fleeting and pointless, I may as well enjoy it. And for me, this doesn’t mean I will act only to better myself—helping others does bring satisfaction. Though people may be “motivated by feelings of solidarity or selflessness” to help each other out, in the end the main reason we help out our peers is because it brings us pleasure. It is for this reason that I feel many people, including myself, are not controlled by desires to become the fittest.
During these moments I find that I lose my competitive drive. It is at these times that I realize my true biological purpose, that my function is to “[reproduce] genes, and serve as their temporary carrier.”[2] I revel in the absurdity of life. Seriously—sometimes I even laugh. However, this state of mind does not last for very long. Eventually I realize that even if happiness is merely chemicals being released in my brain, even if all of my hard work and the gratification it brings is pointless, these things I do are enjoyable, and I may as well enjoy it. I yearn for the small voice that Carnagie mentions; I want it to whisper those exact words. “he…is soothed and sustained by the still, small voice within, which, whispering, tells him that, because he has lived, perhaps one small part of the great world has been bettered just a little.”[3] If I do fight, if I claw or suffer, it is because I realize that even though life is fleeting and pointless, I may as well enjoy it. And for me, this doesn’t mean I will act only to better myself—helping others does bring satisfaction. Though people may be “motivated by feelings of solidarity or selflessness” to help each other out, in the end the main reason we help out our peers is because it brings us pleasure. It is for this reason that I feel many people, including myself, are not controlled by desires to become the fittest.
THIS PERSON, WHETHER THEY REALIZE IT OR NOT, IS DERIVING PLEASURE FROM HELPING OUT HIS FELLOW HUMAN.
[1] Darwin 400
[2] Darwin 409
[2.5] Darwin 518
[3] Darwin 398
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