As an evolving species, how much significant and accomplished are we? Homo Sapiens Sapiens is a species with high intelligence, and one of the major determining aspects for that, is our unique curiosity and ability to find new information. Altogether, many a different aspects of our intelligence validate our highest placement in the hierarchical composition among all the species living on Earth. However, we seem to live simultaneously with two of our very own contrasting natures. On one hand, we might be intelligent and significant in ways that we don't even yet realise. And on the other hand, we are so infinitesimally small in the universe, while causing such a damage to this planet and her ecosystem, that we seem morbidly stupid to the point where our existential value looks questionable in itself. We always seem to partake in the battle between these two natures.
A shrub grows into its full capacity, so does a mountain lion. But when observing growth in Homo Sapiens, different dimensions come into play. Most of us, biologically speaking, grow into full fledged adults with visible similarities seen across all our species. But we are also complex beings inhabiting and moving within complex societal structures. So the human growth as compared to that of any other species is a complex phenomenon as well. Our growth isn't limited to merely physiological growth, but also includes the complexities of cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social growth. It also depends on our unique individual nature. But what is this 'unique individual nature' and what makes us relatively so 'unique'?
Let us take a momentary break, look around, and observe as well as analyse everything else other than our own species. We should be able to come to this realisation that we have gradually become the rulers of this land for quite a long time now. We have enslaved tigers, gunned down lions.. we have magnified the glory of sands and stones. But also from a slightly contrary view point, astronomy as a subject is very fascinating because it gives us an idea of a bigger picture as well as a beautiful and almost extremely dreadful realisation of our miniature nature and insignificance amidst this vast neverending space.
We are as big as germs--- right as we swing our feet across the door of KFC, if viewed from the outerspace. One doesn't need to have an obsession with astronomy to understand this. And at this rate of technological advancements and scientific researches, we might never reach the end of our milkyway. And this galaxy in itself, as compared to the observable universe, is equivalent to a single sand dust seated on a vast beach. Death of a strong national figure seems to have no visible effects in the big picture. With a historical reminder of what had happened to dinosaurs, we know that a flying space rock still has the capacity to end our existence into oblivion, regardless of the current technology. So the question is, are we really that significant and intelligent? Science, backed by all the statistical evidences and collection of factual data, would merrily agree that we are an extremely infinitesimal species in every aspects in the overall universal grand scheme.
Scientific as well as spiritual reasoning, I firmly believe, is an easy gateway into the research and study of our worth, significance, and placement amidst this infinite existence. I exist because my parents exist. They exist because our ancestors existed. Our ancestors existed because our species has existed. Our species exists because it evolved from other living organisms, gradually, one after another. Living organisms have existed because Earth exists, and the environment gradually and eventually became favourable for them to exist and function. Earth exists because the Sun exists. Sun exists because this galaxy exists. This galaxy exists because of the existence of infinite space. Big Bang or not, I am the existing, living, and funtioning product of billions upon billions of years of this universal formation. I am the result of quadrillions upon quadrillions of varying probabilities and possibilities. One minute change in the overall process, and the entire outcome would have been altered and affected, and I possibly would have ceased to exist, or would not have existed at all. I have the same elements in me that form a star (Sagan, 2000)¹.
My single action has the capacity to create ripples in somewhere another place in space like the throw of a pebble that causes an entire lake to ripple. Because of that consistently running common force in me; I have potentially, inside each physical frame of my cells, the history and intelligence of everything that has happened since the beginning of creation of this infinity. Ironically, I seem to be nothing, but also everything at the same time.
Through their science of reasoning and meditation, the great sages of the past have given their fruitful insights into this discussion. The Great Sufi Rumi (n.d/2005) quotes, "You are the drop, and the ocean" (p. 02)². Advaita (non-dual) philosophy in Sanatan religion has since millenia considered that we are nothing and everything at the same time, and that we are but one truth or reality which is 'Brahman' or 'Self'. Guru Shri Adi Shankaracharya, one of the major founders and exponents of this philosophy also known as the 'Advaita Vedanta', gives us insight into this with extreme precision and beauty:
The entire universe is truly the Self. There exists nothing at all other than the Self. The enlightened person sees everything in the world as his own Self, just as one views earthenware jars and pots as nothing but clay (Abhayananda, 2008, p. 90)³
Whether we believe we are only a single helium atom in the sun or the whole existence of sun reflected on that one helium atom, we would be correct either way. On one hand, this school of thought feels very poetic, and on the other hand, it also hints at the idea that despite being minute in size, we might have universe hidden inside us and hence our miniature size could be all but an illusion.
Even so, this world seems much more complex than a philosophical reflection and reasoning such as the one mentioned above. Us living beings, while being very isomorphic or similar in nature, also seem to be entirely unique and different from one another. And even though a single helium atom reflects the entire nature of sun, the gigantic star is filled with countless number of this same atom. Would it matter if one atom disappeared from the sun? When correlating this to the human beings, would it actually matter to the universe if one of us disappeared?
Correlation, however, does not equal to causation. Something's miniature nature might be irrelevant to whether it is significant or insignificant. When a supernova explodes a million light years far away, it releases everything of itself into the space. That is its inherent nature. But that might be insignificant to us, regardless of its unimaginable size. If we look from an ethical standpoint, every living organism is significant and special in itself simply because of its existence, and that is its intrinsic value. One of the major founders and proponents of Functionalism perspective of Sociology, Durkheim (1893/2014), explains that each small element of social institution works together systematically in order to serve for the greater purpose of the larger society, and he highlights the point that an element exists in a society because it has some values or functions to provide, or else that element would have ceased to exist⁴. An office worker might disregard earthworm as something small and insignificant, but to a farmer it is a gift of nature.
Amidst all this, a question however arises whether we as well as the universe are completely functional and stable systems without any flaws. And the answer seems to be quite obvious to us as well. Even if we morally and ethically agree that each human or living organism has its inherent right to live to its fullest and is important, there seem to be underlying flaws too. For example, if the aforementioned sociological perspective says everyone is significant because s/he has values or functions to provide to the society, what actual good contribution or value does a serial killer provide to this society? If the contribution is to make people aware that narcissists and psychopaths exist, there are enough documentary series and movies to gain that knowledge from.
Our study of philosophy, science, and spirituality doesn't always seem to save us from wretchedness of this unpredictable world either. The world isn't all sunshine and rainbows but a very mean and nasty place; it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it (Stallone, 2006, 1:03:25)⁵. We are also compelled to constantly fight against our own selfishness, envy, angst, avarice, fallacies, etc. We have been morbidly stupid for millenia. That explosion in Beirut port, Lebanon in 2020 happened due to the inefficiency, corruption, ignorance, and incompetency of Lebanese goverment. The reason is that the goverment was already provided with serious warnings many times beforehand (and even an ultimate warning) that nearly three tons of Ammonium Nitrate, an explosive chemical, had been stored alongside the fireworks inside the same warehouse of that Beirut port. The government knew very well that an explosion could occur at anytime (years beforehand), but did not take even a single step in order to prevent the casualties, let alone take action to remove the explosives. The repurcussions of this horrid incident were extremely irreversible(ABC News In-depth, 2020)⁶. These fallacies and selfishness, along with the biblical seven deadly sins, are seen all over the world. The overall political system and goverment of our country would be a decent example of this human ignorance and indecency.
Despite all this, we aren't some completely vile creatures either. Our awareness tells us time and again that we are little to nothing in the big picture. We still don't know everything and live inside uncertainty. Anything could happen next. One of our biggest strengths also lies in this self-awareness, which helps and guides us to see through our own flaws and limitations. We might be intelligently unintelligent.
The big human challenge is in accepting the fact that there is nothing fancy about us. Our physiology of response to events, our empathy, emotional bonding, etc. is the same boring physiology as every other animal out there. We are just using it in a way that is unrecognisable (Sapolsky, 2011)⁷.
Adding to that, searching of useful information for better survival is also in a way our inherent nature. For example, a knife could be used for inflicting violence. But having developed morality, ethics, values, and sensibility because of our gradual evolution, we also know how to make the best utility out of harmful appliances such as knife. The same Ammonium Nitrate, that caused Beirut explosion, flourishes our lives on Earth today because of its utility in agriculture as an extremely crucial fertilizer.
Whether we believe we are intelligent or unintelligent, significant or insignificant, it doesn't change the fact that we are always evolving in one way or another. We are able to see through our own ignorance, fallacies, and evils. This in itself should be a sign of intelligence. The world isn't all black and white. There are a lot of grey areas in between. As the time moves forward, we might be seeing through our own mistakes and unintelligent decisions of today (mistakes that we are probably unaware of), and then develop better technologies and ideas. On the contrast, we might start becoming the victims of degeneracy as well. For example, manufactured products are very short-lasting today, as compared to the products that were manufactured fourty years ago. This might be a clear indication that manufactoring companies want to earn more profit by selling their products more frequently to the same customer. But since correlation does not equal to causation, there might be other factors involved in this too. We have the power and capacity to research and come up with better collective ideas regarding this subject of short-lasting products.
Bottomline is, change is always inevitable, and we might be much more intelligent after a hundred years than we are today, in many aspects. The idea that, we simultaneously live with two of our contrasting natures (being significantly intelligent beyond imagination while also being so trifling and ignorant) seems inevitable in the future as well. Either for worse. Or for better. But inevitably, for change.
©Atmajyoti Regmi
October, 2022
Reference Entry:
¹Sagan C. (2000). The cosmic connection: An extraterrestrial perspective. (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. https://www.amzn.com/0521783038
²Rumi, J. (2005). Love: The joy that wounds: The love poems Of Rumi. (M. Tajadad, N. Tajadad, J. L. Carriere, E. Powell, Trans.) Souvenir Press.
³Abhayananda S. (2008). The divine universe: An alternative to the scientific worldview. iUniverse. https://www.amzn.com/0595527515
⁴Durkheim, E. (2014). The division of labour in society. (1st ed.). Free Press. (Orginial work published 1893). https://www.amzn.com/1476749736
⁵Stallone S. (Director). (2006). Rocky Bolboa.[Film] MGM Distribution/Sony Pictures Releasing (United States), 20th Century Fox (International)
⁶ABC News In-depth. (2020, August 5). Beirut Blast: The explosion that stole a nation's hope | Four Corners [Video]. Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20iB09b7Ycc
⁷Sapolsky, R. [Stanford]. (2011, February 2). 1. Introduction to Human Behavioral Biology [Video]. Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnIGh9g6fA
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