A Question of Survival: Part I

The human experience involves an innumerable range of actions and emotions, many of them seemingly bizarre. As emotional, sentient beings, we are often led to do things by our ‘emotions’ that would seem strange, perhaps counter-productive or even self-destructive.

     However, when one takes a step back from the immediate context of these actions and emotions, it is possible to see the true reasons for them. As a species, we have developed far beyond our original make-up, and the world we live in is vastly different in almost every possible way to that of our earliest ancestors. Despite this, we are still driven by many of the subconscious urges and instincts that evolved in early humans. Underlining all of these is the simplest, strongest and most vital drive any living species can posses- the survival instinct.

     So much of what we do, consciously and subconsciously, our actions and emotions and experiences, can be traced back to this singular instinct of survival, whether of the individual or the species. For example, take perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of human existence- the concept of ‘love’. We now know that the heady, often confusing and always powerful feelings we describe as ‘love’ are brought about by a particular biochemical reaction in our brain. When two human specimens subconsciously see themselves as ideal mating partners this reaction takes place in order to drive their conscious brain to pursue the match, resulting in strong offspring as well as increasing the chances of lifelong mating partners and the creation of a family unit- all of which helps to ensure the offspring have the best possible chance of survival.

      In the modern world, with the astounding advances we have made in communications and travel, there is a great deal of mixing between the original genetic races of humanity. Thus, xenophobia and racism have come to be seen as modern ills, as symptomatic of the barbarism that threatens to engulf the progress of ‘civilisation’.  However, this is not so. The world of our earliest ancestors was one in which people gathered into small tribal or even familial groups, with much less ability to travel great distances than today. Therefore, outsiders to the group were likely to look different in some way. And, in the harsh, animal world of ‘kill or be killed’, any outsider could be a grave threat. Therefore, it is logical that man would develop a mistrust, fear or even hatred for anything that differs from the status quo of his particular group.

      Today, we struggle with the concept of racism. In public we decry it as a terrible crime- as, taken to its fullest extent, it surely is. Yet in private, we may laugh at a ‘racist’ joke or have similar thoughts we would perhaps not utter aloud. We feel ashamed for those thoughts, driven on by the relentless pursuit of a politically-correct utopia in which nothing of true worth is said or done, for fear of breaking these self-constructed taboos. We are all a little bit racist, not because we are vile and disgusting human beings, but because it is a throwback to a time when such an impulse could be the difference between life and death. A time that may yet return.

      And finally, a phenomenon which encapsulates so much of what humanity is- war. Almost every war we  have fought was over money or land or power. All three equate to a single, all-important position- dominance. Dominance over a neighbour means the removal of any threat from them and the continued assurance of survival. Even the most vicious attack dog will cease trying to tear your throat out once it has pissed on you, symbolically dominating you and removing any threat you may have posed.

    The survival instinct is the most basic yet potent drive we have. It dominates our actions and thoughts, often in ways we do not see. In an existence that maintains, at least to our perception, the strict divide between existence and non-existence, such a thing is vital. Without it, the human race would most likely have died out a long time ago.

In Part II I will discuss the value of survival deeper, so keep an eye out.