K. Banks

In response to Philosophy Now article

Nietzsche wrote: lack of a historical sense is the original error of all philosophers, though I would add, it is the problem of all people. We, as humans, are myopic and single-focused. We think we have accomplished so much, that our time here is of some great importance, but it is only important to us, and then, not really important at all. For what is history, but the autobiography of a bit-player? And what then is progress, but his minor accomplishments for the moment he is on stage? Would such a fool have any concept of what it is to create something as worthy as the masterpiece on which we live? In truth, we have done disappointingly little with our miraculous evolution. From a cosmic standpoint, the longer we are here, the more we seem to regress in our efforts to produce anything benefitting our entire species as well as our home, despite the expansion of our intellect. 

Strangely, however, our histories would tell it differently. From its conception, humans have been driven by one thing: Lack. That lack has caused our species to make tremendous strides, true, though these are sadly outweighed by the horrific blunders for which it is more responsible. Humans lacked food, thus we cultivated land. A genuinely useful accomplishment. We lacked sustainability, thus we harnessed electricity, giving way to tremendous advancements that improved human life a thousandfold. Certainly, It is unquestionable the strides we have made in the face of deprivation. Yet, everything we have produced is overshadowed by the corrosive nature of the “not enough” mindset. 

The need for more has driven us to war, separation, hatred, cruelty, judgment, torture, slavery, powerlust, and worse; because in our minds, there is never enough. Thus, we maim, fight, consume, and blame. We do this on every level, from individual to global—overproducing, under serving, hoarding, polluting, oppressing, looting…an endless cycle of feeding the need.

This single flaw in humankind has never evolved; and because of this mistake in perspective, history can never progress. The drive for more, from the mindset of lacking, will undo us at exactly the same rate at which it propels us. Thus, while our lives are filled with stuff, we have produced little to advance our species and planet as a whole.

The truth is, there has always been plenty. What would history have been if we understood this long ago?