Human Hunger to Destroy or Fear to be Forgotten? - Jonas Miller

 Many of us today find it hard to understand why we as a species appear to be so driven to consume everything around us. It certainly defies logic; destroying the only thing that keeps us alive. I think we have this way of romanticizing a time that came before, suggesting that "we used to be better than this" or "things aren't the way they used to be." A very curious version of this sentiment can be seen in the way we talk about the prehistoric populations that settled America. Before I get into it, I want to make it clear that many Native populations absolutely did have a respect for nature and the world around them that would be extremely welcome today. There is no doubt that their philosophies seem to be a lot more sound than ours. 

That said, the human urge to "leave our mark" is profound. In Anthropology we discussed many different forms of human settlement and artwork, in many cases with their meaning long forgotten. I think the true meaning was only half the story, the underlying theme of making something that outlives us seems to be very powerful within the human psyche. I recall the story of the Mayan civilization, who were able to achieve mathematical and architectural feats rivaling even the most advanced civilizations of the time. Many of their massive temples and complexes still remain today, obscured by foliage on the Yucatan peninsula. One would think such a culture would blossom as they did in the Mediterranean, but something caused the Mayan culture to whither away. Archeological evidence supports two theories: they were destroyed by war and conflict with their neighbors, or they simply destroyed the very environment that allowed them to become so successful. Odds are both factors played a roll, and those two factors are still the domineering forces of our destruction today. No matter the people, no matter the time period, if a cultural identity goes extinct it is almost always due to a combination of those two factors. 

I think that phenomenon is really due to our desire to leave a mark. We paint caves, build temples, wage wars, and construct entire cities with the goal to demonstrate our identity and be recognized by the generations that follow us. Our fear of being forgotten is what drives our destruction. As individuals, maybe we can forgo these urges to make our mark and focus instead on the beauty of the moment, which is more relaxing anyway.

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