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46
"Man" in
THE GREAT IDEAS
-
A
Synopticon of Great Books of the W est–
ern
W
orld
says it all in one short sen–
tence. Because the ultimate question "ls
the human mind unique ?" is answered
"unequivocally
yes"
by the simple fact
that the question is posed at all!
Man's search for meaning operates on
a wholly different order of magnitude
from the compulsive drives of animals.
The questions "ls there an ultimate
meaning in life ?," "Where is humanity
going?," "Why was I born?," "What's
it all about ?" have inflamed every gen–
eration of human beings from time
immemorial. The desire to understand
"the purpose of it all" gnaws at the
innermost being of every thinking per–
son throughout his or her life.
And tbere is absolutely no equivalent
in all of the animal kingdom. An
animal can see no more than specific
bits and isolated pieces of its life at any
one time. In momentous contrast, a
human being can not only visualize the
entire scope of his own life, but he can
also comprehend the whole expanse of
al/
human life as one unified concept.
No animal asks questions about the
meaning or purpose of life, because
animal life cannot be doubted, it can
only be embraced and enjoyed. Man
is unique, certainly on earth and prob–
ably in the Cosmos, who asks such
questions. (Oobzhansky)
It does not matter for the purposes of
this article what answers the individual
human being gives himself in response
to his own crying need to attain sorne
meaning for his own personal life. By
the simple fact that this need to know
exists,
roan has already demonstrated
the transcendent uniqueness of the
human mind: its knowledge and ig–
norance, its awareness and loneliness,
its grandeur and wretchedness. "Man
knows that he is wretched. He is there–
fore wretched, because he is so; but he
is really greater because he knows it."
(Pascal)
Víctor Frankl developed an entire
school of psychotherapy around man's
search for meaning. And he refutes the
claim of those who say that man's
search for meaning is just a "secondary
rationalization" of the instinctual drives
of animals.
Man's search for meaning is a pri–
mary force in his life and not a
"secondary rationalization" of instinc-
The
PLAIN TRUTH
tual drives (as it would be in animals]
... There are sorne authors who con–
tend that meanings and values are
"nothing but defense mechanisms, re–
action formations and sublimations"
(again as in animals]. But as for my–
self, 1 would not be willing to live
merely for the sake of my "defense
mechanisms," oor would 1 be ready to
die merely for the sake of my "reac–
tion formatioos." Man, however, is
able to live and even die for the sake
of his ideals and values!
6. BASIC TRAITS
ANDNEEDS
Malleability
In contrast to animals, wbo are
restricted by specific geographical, physi–
ological and psychological circumstances,
human beings are almost infinitely
adaptable.
It is true indeed, that man, in con–
trast to the animal, shows an almost
infinite malleability,-
just as he can
eat almost aoything, live under prac–
tically any kind of climate and adjust
himself to
it,
there is hardly any
psychic condition which he caonot
endure, and under which he cannot
carry on. He can live free, and as a
slave. Rich and
in
luxury, and under
conditions of half-starvation. He ca.n
live as a warrior, and peaceably; as
an exploiter and robber, and as a
member of a co-operating and loving
fellowship. (Erich Fromm)
Out of Harmony With Nature
All animals contribute to the balance
of nature. Only man, among al! the
creatures on earth,
disrttpts
the balance
of nature. The proof? Pollution and
pesticides: the crisis in ecology.
Need to W ork and Trade
Man rises above the animal kingdom
because he
prodttces.
No matter how
primitive the technology, all human
beings
work
-
every society molds and
permanently changes its environment.
What animal could be called a
"craftsman" - with, to quote
C.
W.
Milis, "no ulterior motive in work other
than the product being made and the
process of its creation ?"
Once man completes his own work,
he
lrades
for the products of his fellow
man's work. No animal does this. The
great economist and social thinker,
Adam Smith, analyzed it tbus:
... the propensity to truck, barter,
and exchange one thing for another
...
is common to alJ men, and to be
found
in
no other
race
of
attimals,
which seem to know neither this nor
any other species of contracts ... No–
body ever saw a dog make a fair and
deliberate exchange of one bone for
another with another dog.
February 1972
Able to Be Bored
Human beings can become
bored.
Animals canoot. No animal could real–
ize that "l'm bored." The difference is
fundamental.
Animals are content when their basic
bodily needs are satisfied. Few men are
really content under similar circum–
stances. Human beings demand
variety
in their lives-
change
creates
interest.
Animals,
on the other hand,
avoid
vari–
ety in their lives - change creates
anx–
iety.
(
Animals, of course, do experience
variation
in their lives - but it's a
planned
variation within very struc–
tured boundaries.)
7. HIGHEST CAPACITIES
ANO CAPABILITIES
Moral Sense
Animals will do anything if it will
benefit themselves. Humans, in con–
tradistinction, can act in accord with a
higher sense of what (they at least
"think") is "Right" and "Good."
We are not presently concerned
whether there is, or is not, an "Absolute
Right" and/or an "Ultimate Good."
Our point is that man "thinks" there is
- and therefore tries, or pretends to
try, to live in harmony with it. Animals
don't try and don't pretend to try -
they live by taking the path of least
resistance.
Character
Charactet'
is totally unknown to ani–
mals. Only man can appreciate the con–
cept of character - judgment and self–
discipline - the capacity to make and
stick to a difficult decision in the face of
personal hardship.
What animal has ever envisioned, or
will ever envision, the broad range of
human characteristics from boorish to
charming, vulgar to gracious, sneaky to
upright, sadistic to compassionate, per–
verse to noble?
Free Will
Free will
demands the absence of
predetermined actions. Animals exhibit
stereotyped instincts which operate by
means of genetically preprogrammed
pathways. Humans beings can con–
sciously make
any
decision at any time
- even irrational ones.
What animal has ever committed sui–
cide with even a partial realization of