Humanity

posted by guybrush122 on August 23, 2007 - 1:16pm

Tags:

So let’s imagine the apocalypse. Let’s assume that global warming – to put a contemporary (and highly probable) spin on it – has become irreversible. The climate is fated to change and change and change until the earth winds up, as Stephen Hawking put it, much like Venus— 250 degrees Celsius and raining sulphuric acid. We are doomed from this moment on. It’s a prospect that’s extraordinarily frightening. To face death is one thing. It is a personal struggle, but able to be handled because (and I am speaking for myself here, but I feel that it’s true with most) we have the knowledge that life will go on without us. We may die, but others are born and others live, and then they die, and more still are born, and so on. But death in the face of apocalypse? To die in a cave somewhere with three other people, when the earth’s sky is scorched red and acid is falling from it and the landscape is barren and lifeless? That’s maddening.

Now of course I’m being very dramatic here; but many climatologists predict such a doom-ridden outcome within the next 1000 years. Some think it may already be irreversible. Again, let’s assume that’s true. Now what? Faced with complete assurance of our imminent total destruction, what will humanity do? Well, the real philosophical question I want to address is more like, what should humanity do?

One thing that I feel is unmistakable about the human character is that in every individual we have it in us to create art. It’s our nature to do so— to poetically express and reflect and comment upon the human condition. Because I feel that human experience and art are so inseparable, I argue that art, on many levels, is a part of and makes up the human condition. Even if not all of us paint a picture, take a photo, write a poem or story or essay, shoot a film or act, play music, we all create art, and our life is shaped by it. Art imitates life and life imitates art— it’s very cyclical. And though we may not use the accepted “artistic media” to create our art, we do so anyway, even when no one is watching: perhaps someone’s last words, a well-phrased word of advice, an act of charity, an expression of beauty, or an expression of one’s reaction to beauty, or an expression of love. Everyday things, and they are all a part of our existence. Humans are metaphysical creatures. Whether we like to think about it or not, we are all, at our root, philosophical. We do things in defiance, even when faced with certain fate. The Japanese fight to the death, in the name of honor, even when outnumbered. Only humans could come up with a concept like “honor” or “love” and die for it against all odds. I don’t mean to suggest we created honor or love— I believe the existential thought that essence precedes existence. These things were always here – truth, beauty, love, honor, dignity, etc. – but only humans, as far as we know, give name to them, and conceive of them so intently; would do anything for them.

Louis Mackey, from the clip above, expresses a very Nietzschean idea— that most people are held back from reaching their true potential because of the universal human characteristics of fear and laziness. At the same time, such defiance, such simultaneous loyalty and dissent, soaks the pages of human history. And not necessarily from philosophers or leaders or warriors or artists! But from common man (though, as I suggested before, I truly believe that common man is ever the philosopher and artist, but refuses to admit it). And now, faced with certain, imminent destruction, what shall we do?

I think everyone would agree that if we were guaranteed to perish soon (and by our own hands, yet), we should live as we always wanted to— enjoy life while we can. Either repent, or live for yourself. That would, in my mind, be the foremost schools of thought that would arise from such a scenario. But the danger of repentance in such a time (and I am not speaking against any religion, but of general human repentance) is that it easily gives way to shame, and justifies it. Shame, specifically, of humanity in addition to the self. In other words, it is both “forgive me for my sins” and “forgive us for destroying life, which is so wonderful.” There is a problem there— how can we be ashamed of humanity? There are times, of course, when we are not proud. One can not lightly dismiss (in fact, one can not dismiss at all) the atrocities we humans have committed against ourselves, on both large and small scales. It seems that the trade off to the human discovery of love was the discovery of the seductive pleasure of hate. But regardless, to be ashamed of humanity? The same humanity that creates art, and dies for the metaphysical, and struggles with the self toward what is “just” or “right” or “truthful?” I’m not ashamed of that. Though it is fine to repent for one’s wrongdoings, one must not be ashamed of that beautiful struggle that is implicit in them, that comes alive through everyday art.

As for living for the self— in a way, allowing yourself the freedom to live as you have always wanted is breaking free from that fear that Louis Mackey speaks of. But the danger in this is that we forget others; furthermore, we are free to live as we want, but many – through purely id-driven desire – wish to live lazily. We would forget about the little things – cleanliness, charity, that sort of thing. I would not be in the least bit surprised if gang violence and crime raises 10 fold almost immediately after the discovery of our coming annihilation. Indisputably, I feel, that would be a problem.

So again, what should we do?

Be loyal and dissent— follow the human tradition. In my eyes, the best thing would be to carry on. Yes, shed our fears and live life as we want (for we’re all going to die very soon), but also be charitable— be as compassionate as ever. To absurdly defy the destruction of our species. Enact environmental conservation laws, try desperately to maintain peace, to feed the hungry, help the sick and poor, build more houses, take more refugees. What a beautiful swan song for the human race that would be. And what, I ask you, is more artistic than song?

To me, that is truly human— to, in the face of all odds, commit an act of beauty or charity (an act of art) when it is not necessary on a practical level. Because it is necessary. It is necessary in order to be human.

So let us live like that right now. Because the same argument stands— no, the total eradication of our species is not definite, but we are all going to die anyway. Let us start our swan song now. Fear and laziness notwithstanding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-PajFU0ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJXspT2VtOE

Bookmark/Search this post with: