Four legged, bipedal, cranial volume of around 1600cc, reproduces sexually, complex social structure with dominance of alpha male- any sane person would find this description of a human absolutely absurb.
However this is how Nature and Evolution view us. As far as nature is concerned,we are doing no more than the tiny bacteria on our kitchen sink. For nature we are both tools to pass on our genes to future generations.
Whether its number, cranial volume or social structure there are ample examples in the animal kingdom that are at par with us or even ahead. Microbial bacteria beat us at the number game anyday. Not to extract the thrill out of your existence but even domestic chicken outnumber us!!! Yet we think we rule the earth.
Our very own ancestors, Neandrathals, had a bigger cranial volume. And dont even mention the social structure issue. Whether its bees dancing or ants following their queen, we are defnitely not the only smart race to come up with a social plan. In fact, many a times I feel that the society of the jungle is far more sophisticated and civilised than what i see on a busy commute to work everyday.
The Renaissance is said to have revived the human spirit. The focus shifted towards celebrating the human race. And this anthropocentric view of society has been deepening since then. Whether its research, its useful only if its aimed at increasing our longetivity. If its technology it better be making our life easy. We are even bending the ecosystem to suit our needs. The ecologists might be screaming at the top of their lungs about green house, ozone holes or destroying someone's habitat. But we cant hear their voices above our own. For gods sake; even Valentines day has more takers than Earth Day!!
Yet despite this undying love for ourselves, we can see society crumbling in front of our own eyes. Crime rates, divorces, stress just seems to be getting higher and higher while inner peace or zen is something we see very little of or search only every Sunday at our Art of Living class.
If over billions of years of our existence should have taught us anything, it should have been to decrease the mayhem within our social and organic selves. Clearly that is not the case. Are we headed towards a whirlpool that is going to suck the very life force out of us? Are we so clouded with everyday life that we dont see the bigger picture? What is the reason of this discord?
I shall put the question a little bit differently. It will help you understand where im heading.
Is it just us or does Nature also share our anthropocentric viewpoint? Does Evolution also consider us superior than any other gene pool?
The answer is No. Im afraid not. As far as Nature is concerned, the day we stop making "sense" to her, she will spit us out like a dead fly. And while evolution might be making a heartless cold distinction among our species in coherence with survival of the fittest, it makes no distinction across species. For evolution, all species are alike. They are nothing but organic vehicles waiting to push their gene pool forward.
And I think its this discord between how Nature and we veiw ourselves that is causing the unhappiness.
Let me link Anthropology and Evolutionary science a bit to show where im heading.
A married couple works in the same office, has the exact same salary and working hours and gives equal contribution at the work front both find themselves fighting over a mere household chore. When they are equals at work, in society and in each others head; then why is making dinner an obvious wife thing. In fact, come to think of it; she did have that extra board meeting than he did that day. Then why is she expected to think of the menu, lay down the table and cook for the family while all he helps is in chopping the chicken?
I have an answer to this age old question among couples- Evolution, my dear Watson, Evolution!
Male and female brains are wired up through years of evolution. Male brain is the hunter gatherer while female brain is wired to be the home maker. Over years of living in a society we might have come to a piont where we can teach the male brain to do some home making chores yet we are at our core what our genes are telling us to do. "Natural instinct" if i may call it.
Let me make it clear that Im in no way against women liberation. Being a working mother, an entrepreneur and a neuroscience graduate I am nothing but women rights put together! Im just saying that male and female brains are wired differently. They are of the same size, capacity and capabilities. Just wired differently
And the day we start respecting this fact, life will make more sense. The fact that at our core we are just slaves to our biochemical makeup.
Ask an infant and you will know instantly. An infant is nothing but genetic material. 100% natural and in very close touch with his instincts. Thats why an infant in his first few months of survival clearly picks mother over father. Nobody told him so. Even if you leave aside the 9 months of nurturing theory away; nobody can tell you more clearly than an infant that males and females have clear distinct roles- none less or more important than the other. Just different.
The problem is that society has evolved faster than our genes have. The wheel gave way to the jet age that tranformed into the internet age. While organically, we really dint catch up so fast. After all genetic mutation, natural selection and evolution doesnt happen in a matter of a few decades. Iam talking of billions of years of selection, trying to keep pace with few years of social rapid lane changing.
And though society and humans started together, they seem to have parted ways long back.
So next time you feel this giant black hole inside you and turn to search for inner peace; just know that the discord lies between what society is saying and what your genes are guiding you to do. They might not be in tandem always.
I dont know what the answer should be when you face such a dilemma. Its clearly a matter of personal choice. However, I do know for sure that if you are strong enough and have the guts to listen to what millenniums of years of evolution is telling you through your genes, then you clearly are not the kinds that will let a few years of social polishing bother you.
I leave the debate open for discussions.
Keep it natural. Keep it real-
Lahar
However this is how Nature and Evolution view us. As far as nature is concerned,we are doing no more than the tiny bacteria on our kitchen sink. For nature we are both tools to pass on our genes to future generations.
Whether its number, cranial volume or social structure there are ample examples in the animal kingdom that are at par with us or even ahead. Microbial bacteria beat us at the number game anyday. Not to extract the thrill out of your existence but even domestic chicken outnumber us!!! Yet we think we rule the earth.
Our very own ancestors, Neandrathals, had a bigger cranial volume. And dont even mention the social structure issue. Whether its bees dancing or ants following their queen, we are defnitely not the only smart race to come up with a social plan. In fact, many a times I feel that the society of the jungle is far more sophisticated and civilised than what i see on a busy commute to work everyday.
The Renaissance is said to have revived the human spirit. The focus shifted towards celebrating the human race. And this anthropocentric view of society has been deepening since then. Whether its research, its useful only if its aimed at increasing our longetivity. If its technology it better be making our life easy. We are even bending the ecosystem to suit our needs. The ecologists might be screaming at the top of their lungs about green house, ozone holes or destroying someone's habitat. But we cant hear their voices above our own. For gods sake; even Valentines day has more takers than Earth Day!!
Yet despite this undying love for ourselves, we can see society crumbling in front of our own eyes. Crime rates, divorces, stress just seems to be getting higher and higher while inner peace or zen is something we see very little of or search only every Sunday at our Art of Living class.
If over billions of years of our existence should have taught us anything, it should have been to decrease the mayhem within our social and organic selves. Clearly that is not the case. Are we headed towards a whirlpool that is going to suck the very life force out of us? Are we so clouded with everyday life that we dont see the bigger picture? What is the reason of this discord?
I shall put the question a little bit differently. It will help you understand where im heading.
Is it just us or does Nature also share our anthropocentric viewpoint? Does Evolution also consider us superior than any other gene pool?
The answer is No. Im afraid not. As far as Nature is concerned, the day we stop making "sense" to her, she will spit us out like a dead fly. And while evolution might be making a heartless cold distinction among our species in coherence with survival of the fittest, it makes no distinction across species. For evolution, all species are alike. They are nothing but organic vehicles waiting to push their gene pool forward.
And I think its this discord between how Nature and we veiw ourselves that is causing the unhappiness.
Let me link Anthropology and Evolutionary science a bit to show where im heading.
A married couple works in the same office, has the exact same salary and working hours and gives equal contribution at the work front both find themselves fighting over a mere household chore. When they are equals at work, in society and in each others head; then why is making dinner an obvious wife thing. In fact, come to think of it; she did have that extra board meeting than he did that day. Then why is she expected to think of the menu, lay down the table and cook for the family while all he helps is in chopping the chicken?
I have an answer to this age old question among couples- Evolution, my dear Watson, Evolution!
Male and female brains are wired up through years of evolution. Male brain is the hunter gatherer while female brain is wired to be the home maker. Over years of living in a society we might have come to a piont where we can teach the male brain to do some home making chores yet we are at our core what our genes are telling us to do. "Natural instinct" if i may call it.
Let me make it clear that Im in no way against women liberation. Being a working mother, an entrepreneur and a neuroscience graduate I am nothing but women rights put together! Im just saying that male and female brains are wired differently. They are of the same size, capacity and capabilities. Just wired differently
And the day we start respecting this fact, life will make more sense. The fact that at our core we are just slaves to our biochemical makeup.
Ask an infant and you will know instantly. An infant is nothing but genetic material. 100% natural and in very close touch with his instincts. Thats why an infant in his first few months of survival clearly picks mother over father. Nobody told him so. Even if you leave aside the 9 months of nurturing theory away; nobody can tell you more clearly than an infant that males and females have clear distinct roles- none less or more important than the other. Just different.
The problem is that society has evolved faster than our genes have. The wheel gave way to the jet age that tranformed into the internet age. While organically, we really dint catch up so fast. After all genetic mutation, natural selection and evolution doesnt happen in a matter of a few decades. Iam talking of billions of years of selection, trying to keep pace with few years of social rapid lane changing.
And though society and humans started together, they seem to have parted ways long back.
So next time you feel this giant black hole inside you and turn to search for inner peace; just know that the discord lies between what society is saying and what your genes are guiding you to do. They might not be in tandem always.
I dont know what the answer should be when you face such a dilemma. Its clearly a matter of personal choice. However, I do know for sure that if you are strong enough and have the guts to listen to what millenniums of years of evolution is telling you through your genes, then you clearly are not the kinds that will let a few years of social polishing bother you.
I leave the debate open for discussions.
Keep it natural. Keep it real-
Lahar
