
Nature versus nurture is something I’m sure everyone has heard of. Centuries upon centuries have passed by and there is still no definitive explanation on where humankind has originally spawned from or where we are definitively going. It could have been from apes, as they do share 98% of our genetic makeup. But then again if you asked my grandmother, she would have told you to stop being silly and to read the bible more often.
Though let me get to my point. Its been thousands of years and it seems for all of our technological advances, humankind hasn’t really changed much. Yes, we have adapted a great deal over time to the adversities original neanderthals faced due to their environment and the lack of intelligence/ingenuity needed to quell basic human needs (see: gas stoves, schools, air conditioning, digital communication). We have honed our skills in science, trade, business, even sex. But have we really developed that much?
We have replaced our caves with houses; replaced our clubs of stone and spears of wood with guns and nuclear bombs; we’ve replaced territorial markings with invisible state lines and border patrols. So the question remains on the table. Have we truly evolved, or are we just making dolled up versions of the caveman?
Though there are thinkers in the past, and maybe some in the present that have said things like, “I have a dream.” or “Imagine…”. In the end, humans as a whole are conformists and self preserving creatures, undeserving of trust, and unfathomable to think outside of the generational boxes that we seem to repeatedly trap ourselves in. In a sense all of our advances seem to make us, for the most part, regressive in the good characteristics we’ve developed over the years. Most people would rather get drunk than expand their mind and read a book. Some would rather think of sex as a time to just “fuck” than an act of passion or love. Some would rather send a text via their phones, than face the potential awkwardness and honesty of a real conversation. The “progressive” state of mankind is becoming a cold, standoffish, and pretentious existence. Though i will not begin to think or pretend i am above all of this. As i sit on my MacBook waiting for someone to instant message me back, I’m wondering how many pints i’ll be able to down this weekend. At least orangoutangs cuddle and kiss after sex. At least they take the time to enjoy each moment while they swing from tree to tree. At least neanderthals didn’t sneak about the things they did, and didn’t pretend to be better than what they were or each other.
It seems the more complicated things become, the less things seem to actually progress. So i’ll ask the question one more time. Have we truly evolved?