Our Deeply Human Condition
…Do we even stand a chance?
To be human is to be neither mammal nor machine.
For much of how we think is too structured — perhaps even robotic.
And yet, we share a profoundly sombre fate embedded deep within our core.
For what we have inherited from our fellow Earthling ancestors is the fragile nature — the intuitive, unforgiving Tragedy of Emotion.
As the capacity to feel is (perhaps to us) a cherished remnant of what it means to be alive.
One that started with unicellular life, and has continued through the development of plant, animal, and — indeed, human existence on what would have been a rather ordinary planet, orbiting a rather ordinary star.
And we would say that the presence of ‘life’ is what makes it exceptional.
But does it?
Since we don’t yet even possess the means, or the will, to observe the planets within our own solar system closely enough to be able to claim that there is no ‘evidence of life’, it begs the question whether ideas such as The Fermi Paradox are perhaps based on a deeply human presumption of ours:
That ‘living organisms’ are inherently distinguishable from ‘non-organic’ matter.
It could drive you mad if you think too much about it, and yet — I claim, it is far more dangerous not to.
As the possibility that the distinction we make between life and death, is all but an illusion of our deeply human condition — could mean that we are steadily falling behind philosophically, compared to where we are standing technologically as a species.
It could mean that we are wholly unprepared for the discoveries we may be just about to make.
And that, is a notion carrying with it a cosmic horror of Lovecraftian proportions.
For we could be blindly walking into an unlit cavern, only for our eyes to adjust to the surrounding darkness, when we are already deep within it, engulfed by the unfathomable gaze of the unknown.
And as a countless array of unfamiliar sights and concepts begin to invade our personal space, we may be overwhelmed, and succumb to our greatest weakness — our most unforgiving foe, which has been with us since the most ancient time, before we were us, and ever since we would call ourselves living beings:
Fear.
For to be alive means to be afraid to die.
It means to struggle against the inevitable fate bestowed upon us by our inherent nature — our deeply human condition, which is merely a part of the much deeper living force:
The desire to preserve your memory — the only true evidence of your own being, and to perpetuate your identity through what you leave behind.
This is where we have taken a step, a leap, and a journey beyond our dear Earthling relatives.
For we have not only children which we may leave behind as our legacy — to carry our spirit — our identity, further into the void of time…
…But also our ideas.
As it has been a long while since humanity stopped evolving primarily in a traditional, biological sense. For what drives our evolution — our development as a species now, is culture.
For we no longer simply pass on our genetic information — the secrets to our survival, through sexual reproduction. We now have language, and more importantly — concepts:
The ability to communicate directly with our successors, and to learn from our ancestors.
This is a notion, without which, I am perfectly happy to arrogantly let you know, that you simply do not understand what it means to be a human being.
For if you reject this notion, I do not acknowledge you as living in reality.
Needless to say, you are welcome, and even encouraged to challenge this idea…
Though I find it difficult to imagine how exactly you would do so, given that the evidence to support it, is all around you — the technology we surround ourselves with — and perhaps even more importantly, the cultural oddities we take for granted would disappear in an instant, were we not to pass on that information to the next generation through the medium of ideas.
I do not believe I need to provide you with any evidence to support this claim:
That if we were to expect our knowledge to be sufficiently passed on merely through the genetic information we embed within our offspring, we would be gravely mistaken.
It should be so incredibly obvious, that you are bored to death by me saying it, and that I feel stupid for doing so (which I do).
And yet, we don’t seem to openly acknowledge this, let alone talk about it:
That to be human means to pass on your legacy primarily through ideas, rather than sexual reproduction.
But we have to.
Otherwise, we don’t stand a chance against ourselves and what we discover and invent.
There is not even need for any grandiose idea, such as a threat from Artificial Intelligence, Extra-terrestrial life, or conceited self-destruction.
We will simply bury ourselves in our technology, and our capacity to question, and deconstruct everything into oblivion.
Until there is nothing left, but our inhumanity — the other side of our human nature — the mechanical hand reaching out for the power of God.
And if it is true, that there is life out there amidst the stars, and if it so happens that we uncover it — in whatever form it takes, even just a single cell… It could end us.
For we will follow our madness to its inevitable end.
You should know, that we are perfectly willing to fight to the death over toilet paper, when we don’t even need it, should the opportunity arise…
…And to knowingly spread lies of the greatest magnitude — when we have every tool with which to tell the truth, available to us.
Imagine then, the absolute panic, denial, and crisis that would follow the notion that we have discovered life outside of Earth, or unleashed an artificial consciousness superior to our own, that we cannot even pretend to be able to control…
Not to mention all the things we will discover and invent, that are currently unfathomable to us.
At the same time, you can perhaps see for yourself that our ability to choose our leaders well, and to organize and govern ourselves, is tentative at best.
And finally, as for our ability to communicate and understand each other as human beings — to share what we have with each other, and unite, despite our petty differences… Yeah.
Do you think we’re doing well?
I don’t want to cause alarm… Though we might have pressed snooze one too many times, and be overdue for a wake up call.
Within the context of recorded history… Sure, we’re amazing.
As there is always more hope than despair, and a single light can illuminate great darkness…
…Still, beware — for the darkness may not be infinite, but it is insatiable.
And we simply don’t know what threats we may yet face, only that the stakes will only get higher, as we dabble with greater forces, and contend with deeper, unknown evils.
So I implore you, prove me wrong.
Show me I’m the one who’s conceited and naive.
For I firmly believe, that there is simply no other way.
That we don’t even stand a chance against ourselves —
against the overwhelming darkness within and without us,
lest we stand up,
each and every
on our own —
to take responsibility,
and seek out the truth in good faith.
To cherish and accept ourselves and each other for who we are.
Then, and only then, do we stand a chance against our ultimate enemy — fear, and our inevitable fate — death,
to summon the courage
and attain the knowledge
to overcome both,
and continue on our path wherever it may lead us,
as the humans who could,
and were willing to.
And remember, Dear Reader,
Even if you disagree,
Remember, just before you close your eyes to sleep:
Death is but the absence of memory.
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