The Meaning of Human Existence, by Edward O Wilson.
I read a lot, and I like E O Wilson's ideas, but I missed this one - published in 2014. In some praise of the utility of "big data", I was browsing at the local library site, and it suggested this title. I read the library copy! Someone's digital algorithm of my reading habits is working well.
Why is the book extraordinary? It is a scientific work, arguing that we need to combine the fields of the humanities and science. He puts forth all of the evidence that one scientist can muster on why this makes perfect sense.
Some of the better insights I gleaned.
- Why grandparenting is such a wonder. Our evolutionary biology has tuned us to wonder at and protect those tiny beings that are part of our genetic history. I have experienced that, but to have it so wonderfully confirmed was great.
- The answer to the Fermi Paradox.
After a wonderful examination of how life survived on this planet, and a survey of all of the ideas about extraterrestrial life possibilities, he concludes that this is the ONLY habitable planet where we can survive - the only one where the environment would not be totally poisonous to our form of biology. Any other intelligent life form would have long ago figured that out as well. You do not VISIT other biospheres - you might observe them from a distance, but there is little chance we will ever interact with another form of life. When we do find another planet within our supported temperature range, any life already there would not be friendly to our biology. - Diversity of life on this planet.
We often think that we are the only living things that matter in our biosphere. The rest of the living world is the basis of our entire existence, and the creatures around us are absolutely amazing. Our highly developed brain and endocrine system are a marvel, but our other skills and senses are primitive compared to the other inhabitants of this biosphere. There are living things that can see the magnetic fields around the planet. There are animals that can smell thousands of times better than we can, and see a much broader spectrum, and hear sounds we would never notice. This evolutionary engine gave rise to us, and it sustains us - we need to protect it, not destroy it. And it is the ONLY one we are ever going to have. - We are Tribal. He has made this point many times, and it is confirmed by modern psychological research. Of all of the living species, only humans and the ants and termites share this genetic propensity to support our tribe at all costs. It is how we became the only survivor of the other hominids in our species line. It is also the major problem in our modern age where survival involves much more complicated decisions than competition for food and territory. Our defenses rise up to defend our opinions - be they right or wrong.
- The human contribution is in the humanities.
Since we have this highly developed neuronetwork, we are capable of creating new things - things that the biological evolution cannot attain. It is our gift to the biosphere to contribute music and art and meaning and purpose. We are the ultimate product of biology at this point, and our contribution is the creation of meaning and purpose for life itself. We should be about that.
As I said, a modest and remarkable book.
