The Lotus Eaters

Preface

Is there a reason that we forget so easily? That we make the same mistakes again and again? Or maybe is there some kind of cosmic plan that sets boundaries in human evolution into something better, more intuitive and less destructive? In the end, is there anything that we can call OUR fate? History is pouring words of wisdom but nobody seems to listen. As a result of this, human history begins again, embodied in every person that start their new life on Earth, an overwhelming procedure, considering the fact that all that accumulative knowledge remains untouched; that everyone start on zero basis, with one error followed by another one in an endless line. This outrageous fact is not only manifested on personal level; on the contrary, it submerges human race in its entirety. All these wars, occupations, slaughters, genocides, ways of elimination, destruction and annihilation, all these practices were perhaps necessary once. Now humanity must proceed to the next level, justifying the emergence of intellect in an, otherwise, unconscious world.

Human race and Darwinian evolution.

If to be seen as a species, human race has stopped evolving, in terms of Darwinian evolution. Or to put it differently, humanity creates its own path, regardless the environmental factors. The use of brain, that unique tool, as a means of survival, gave humans a dominant role over all other known species. Great discoveries have been made, manipulation of the land has taken place, and many inventions changed the way of living; man turned out to be the ruler of everything. The potentials of human mind are limitless. Then, inevitably the question is posed: Why, then, today’s world is such a mess? After all that we have accomplished, all our victories against the cruel and indiscriminative forces of nature, why is there the awful feeling that we aren’t more mature and evolved than our ancient progenitors, back to the stone age? The penetrating feeling that all our successes and victories indicate a different way of pursuing self preservation and nothing more?  There must be something more beyond that, yet is there?

Considering this socking possibility, it could be said that man never escaped Darwinian route. If we think a little on the basic principle of natural selection- successful species is considered the one that produces a large percentage of progeny- then mankind is unquestionably the most succeeded species of all. Notwithstanding the compliance of human species evolution to Darwinian laws, there are two crucial factors that seem not to fit to the overall picture. First of all, mankind destroys nature by consuming quantities of raw material that exceed its needs and, secondly, humans attack their own species. These two trait can not be found anywhere in nature, at least not at that great scale. So, what is the matter with as, humans?

If we go back again, thinking like Darwin, we may try to figure out a possible explanation for the second behavioral characteristic. It seems that man failed to develop a “species conscience”. (Maybe because human species isn’t an endangered one, the plethora of individuals has led to the conclusion that humans will always be there, occupying the Earth). Instead of that, a “group conscience” has emerged, leading to groups trying to overcome and eliminate others, mainly due to the urge of controlling certain natural resources and expanding the owned land. Under that kind of thinking, there isn’t a species but many ‘subspecies”, that in turn aren’t a stable and unified group of people but, instead, they comprise a community that may differ from time to time, depending on what goals are being set for achievement. On that point of view, it is quite clear that there is an intra-species battle for existence, that can be described in Darwinian terms.

Many times, dominant groups of people considered themselves to be the representatives of the entire human species, a notion followed by an attempt to eliminate other groups’ traits and characters that didn’t fit to the overall image of the man-model, the dominant groups had in mind. An undoubtful example of this behavior is the emergence of the so called western type of man, who led consciously or unconsciously many groups of people, like native American tribes, to extinction.  As for the wars that have been waged during all these aeons of human history, they brought total destruction. The extend of these sufferings is so great it could easily be said that man is by nature hostile to his own species.

As for the first factor, meaning the overconsumption and exploitation of natural resources, it is closely linked to the second one, since it constitutes one of the major motives that mobilize the intra-species conflicts. If we try to find another species that consumes more that what would be sufficient, we would be disappointed: there is none. Except for humans, all other creatures consume according to their needs, preserving thus the chain of life among the organisms. Humans do not do that. Instead, when inhabiting an area, they break the balance of nature. Yet, the question is this: Is the overconsumption a definite proof of non-Darwinian behavior?

Both intra-species conflicts and overconsumption are production of the human mind. Thus, it mustn’t surprise us why these traits are unique. The only conscious organism on Earth is man. Given the fact that the emergence of the human mind is a result of a continuous and natural evolution from absolute unconsciousness to absolute awareness, we must accept also the fact that intellect with all its derivatives is product of nature itself. This conclusion could sound very depressing, considering the justification that follows. Notwithstanding the consequences of the above thinking, conscience is the key to the problem. Because man is aware of the calamities that he brought to the world. And the effort that is needed in order to reach the next level and make peace with himself and with nature presupposes awareness.