Destined to Suffer
Our mammalian ancestors survived through intense paranoia - a trait that persists in a world where its intensity is no longer warranted. Of course, there are many real threats for many humans on planet earth, and for others there are far fewer. It seems only humans (and possibly a few other animals) are capable of crafting environments where suffering can be intentionally reduced.
As a species, it seems we’re extremely good at collectively building goals and achieving them, even when they’re distributed among enormous populations (Iowa has 3 million people in it. When’s the last time 3 million whales, birds, or chimps collaborating on anything?). Regardless if our goals are the right ones, our complex web of social systems and shared symbols have allowed us to thrive.
And yet, this lingering paranoia remains…
This intense feeling, which ensures that we are never content with the current state of affairs, fits nicely into economic models that require growth at all costs - models which prioritize the self above all else.
Maybe it goes both ways. Maybe this same paranoia can save us from the path of destruction it has carved.