Human's battle against Their own Genes

Homo sapiens (aka humans) are special. 

Special enough to develop language and internet, to write and read, and to play god and design intelligence. 

But really - how different are men and women from other living things?

Maybe, we are not that different

Physically, we are made of the same elements and molecules as all living things out there. We have similar biological systems compared to other animals, especially mammals.

We are subject to the ruthless election of the environment and struggle for existence. In many aspects, only the fittest survive. 

“History is a fragment of biology. The life of man is a portion of the vicissitudes of organisms on land and sea. The laws of biology are the fundamental lessons of history.”

We are Spectacularly Different

Some people decide not to have kids. By making this deliberate, conscious decision, one could say humans (some) evolved to betray their own genes, of which the sole purpose is to replicate itself. 

We have arranged ourselves into society and nations, with laws and wars. (Human and some insect societies like ants and bees are the only creatures that wage wars intending to eliminate another “group” of beings.) 

Books and movies allow us to tap into the wisdom and vision of the great minds. Arts and music express ideas and beauty beyond words. 

I don’t think any animals out there do all the above. So yes, (most) humans are pretty special. 

If men and women are not that different and at the same time so incredibly different from other animals, what should we do about this paradox?

Hack the system and live a Good Life 

Understanding how animals work helps us live a better life. This body is made to exercise, to take rest and sleep a lot, and to take a variety of nutritious food. So do that. 

On the other hand, mega corporations are doing everything they can to exploit the human feature. For example, in order to survive, we are always looking for more pleasure and are constantly scanning for danger. Capitalists keep telling you that what you have is not enough, so you need to buy more, buy faster. Social media uses this to make us keep scrolling.

Do not fall into their trap. 

Instead, find meaningful goals to satisfy our ever thirsty nature. 

Something Very Special about Human

I like to think that there is something very special about humans. With this very primitive body, we are able to do extraordinary things. 

There are noble men and women who sacrifice themselves for the better of mankind. 

Numerous studies have shown that building connections and helping others are the best way to improve our happiness. 

Fighting against our selfish genes, doing the hard things instead of the obvious and most comfortable choice, and putting others’ needs before ours - these may be the ultimate hack to live a fuller, happier life. 

Sometimes I wonder if it is of any use to think about things like these. If it’s about making money, probably not. But pondering on these abstract matters, and explaining them (probably to myself) in a clear, readable manner brings me immense satisfaction. 

This process makes me more human - I hope.

References made

This piece is inspired by two classic books, (i) The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976) and (ii) The Lessons of History by Ariel Durant and Will Durant (1968)

Experts in two different aspects explored big questions in biology and history. Very interestingly, they both reached a similar, philosophical conclusion. Leave a comment below and I will let you know what that is.