Humans are animals. We
evolved alongside all the other species that inhabit Earth. We have gone a lot
further than any other species yes, but traced back long enough in time, we as
well come from that one cell that planted the tree of life. Over eons, this
common ancestor spawned us and all the species we see around us today, as well
as numerous others who became extinct as some, like ourselves, grew to
prominence. The anthropic principle and evolution at work. But it seems today
that we have risen so far from the primordial soup that we have a severe case
of delusional grandeur about these lumps of meat that we inhabit. We somehow
think that we are different from animals. We are created in the eyes of a God
who is greater than any being on Earth. We are his chosen species and all
others are seemingly just here for our entertainment and consumption. We are
better than these animals. Humans know how to behave civilized. We have
emotions that make us capable of compassion and pity. More poetically; we have
heart. We also automatically treat each other with respect and equality, we
have morals. In contrast, animals are crude beings acting only on impulse,
living violent and tough lives fighting for existence and just living
day-by-day trying to survive. But are we really that different from them?
I am not disputing our
superiority towards animals, I think several previous posts have made that
abundantly clear. (See for instance Playing the Game of Evolution) I am however disputing human tendency to think of ourselves
as anything but animals, albeit a more sophisticated one. Humans are just as
much an animal as any other living being on this planet. Animals have emotions
too. In fact, they are completely controlled by their emotions and impulses,
these are necessary in their survival. This is also the origin of our emotions.
Fear makes us avoid danger. Love makes us procreate. Anger makes us destroy our
enemies or those who threaten us. Although they exist in a more instinctual and
primitive form in animals due to their lesser intelligence, these basic
emotions, the very tools that made us evolve into who we are and remain with us
today at our more elevated position on the evolutionary ladder, are the same
that guide the animals in their daily struggle to survive. So in reality, these
emotions are not what makes us human. In fact, they are what makes us animals,
a remnant of our more primitive animal ancestry. In contrast, what actually makes
us human is our reason. Our ability to reason is something the animals do not
possess and this is why we are the current superior species. It is reason that
governs and controls our actions, not emotions. Emotions do the opposite. They
are constantly fighting against reason, to make it relinquish control and make
us give in to our more animalistic side. But if we did that, then we would
regress back to a more primitive state, like our animal relatives. But reason
keeps our emotions in check. Most of the time. This is what most people fail to
understand. They think morality and compassion are something inherent in the
human nature infused into our soul by God or some other celestial being.
Because of that they are repeatedly appalled when they are confronted with the
true human nature: animal nature. As it is still embedded into our being, it
occasionally still shows its face. Usually with severe consequences. To be
developed.
To wrap up my previous
posts about conservation (see The Price of Progress and onwards); the dependability of human nature to always sabotage
even the most well thought-out solutions to any problem facing our planet and
species, is why I think it is better to take a more pragmatic and yes I will
say it, cynical stance and accept humans for what they are. A ruthless and
cunning predator, who is always going to think about themselves first. Any
animal would do the same. Therefore, I think conservation efforts in their
current form is a losing battle in the long run because they are too focused on
micro-changes and too dependent on the goodwill of individuals. Yet I still
hope for a future for our animal roommates alongside us, but to achieve this it
would require us to progress further in our own evolution. To effectively
change our very nature. Does that seem like an impossible task? Maybe so, but
that does not change the necessity of achieving it.
Even with the futility
of their efforts, many conservationists still take up the fight against human
nature. And just because contemporary conservation might be a losing battle on
the macro-scale doesn’t mean you should stop fighting. You can still make a
huge difference in many micro-universes. Certain conservation efforts do create
change on the micro-scale, and if that is enough fulfillment for your efforts,
then by all means, do whatever you can. With that in mind, I have tremendous
respect for people devoting their entire life to saving other species and our
environment, even though they might be deluded by idealism and lost in
impossible dreams. At the same time I acknowledge our responsibility for our
birth planet. Mother Earth has great powers and could easily wipe out all of us
should she wish, but in all probability only with outside help from her cosmic
relatives or our own stupidity. But Planet of the Apes? Planet of the Insects? Could
our animal relatives take control of their own destiny while we are still here?
Not likely. In this current paradigm, if animals are to survive it is up to us.
We hold the responsibility for all living things on the planet, which is why
the survival and improvement of our own species should always take precedence. The
first thing they teach you in a Rescue Diver or a First Aid course is to look
after your own safety first. This applies in conservation as well. If this
means excluding other species for the time being then so be it. This is the
essence of survival and is at the core of our natural behavior. I hope it
doesn’t have to come to that, and I will continue to preach conservation as
much as I can on my own little micro-scale. But instead of using my energy
running around tying myself to trees, I prefer to try and change people’s minds
through writing and then maybe speed up our evolution so we can become a Type I civilization and finally live in pact with nature. Yet on the macro-scale I
know there is little I can do anyway, except maybe avoid disappointment and
sadness. Looking at the long timeline and the ultimate end goals takes care of
that and ensures perpetual optimism. Call me a cynic all you want, I prefer
realist. I have nothing but respect for people who still devote their life to
polishing the brass on the Titanic, but in the end I fear they are only heading
for disappointment because of the inevitability of human nature. They are
trying to patch up the bleeding, while they should be trying to prevent it
entirely. Both macro and micro-methods are a benefit, but as with everything,
they work on very different scales. Until we change our nature and rise higher
on the evolutionary ladder, no system of government or conservation effort will
save our species nor our planet. We have to save ourselves, and everyone needs
to do their part. Human nature, or rather animal nature, will be discussed
further in the following posts.
