In the end, we are just animals
On June 2, CSO Magazine Online published an interview with Bruce Schneier entitled, “The Endless Broadening of Security.”
At one point, Bruce makes the followng observation about human behavior.
Making security trade-offs is fundamental to being alive. After figuring out how to eat and reproduce, the next most important thing for a species to figure out is how to avoid predators. So with security such a fundamental driver of brain development, it’s not surprising that very primitive parts of our brain control some of our basic security reflexes. The amygdala, for example, is an ancient part of the human brain that first evolved in primitive fishes. It’s what controls the fight-or-flight response: increased heart rate, increased muscle tension, sweaty palms, and so on. That part of the brain is so fast that when you see a snake, your amygdala starts working even before your conscious brain knows what you’re looking at. You can override your amygdala. That’s part of what makes you uniquely human, and it happens whenever you take a dressing-down from your boss and just listen instead of either running away or stabbing him with a spear. But it’s hard.
Over the past year or two, I’ve read much of the evolution of Bruce’s thinking on the role basic human behavior plays in the realm of security.
And I must say that I agree, for the most part. Cerebrally, it makes sense.
When I read the above quote from him, I had somewhat of an “Ah-ha” moment.
As many of you know, I’m an avid runner.
I love running. I believe that running is as basic to human nature as eating.
I believe in the greater evolutionary chain, running was critical to the success of the human species.
Over the years, I began to believe that the simple act running put me in touch with the animal that I really am.
Humans are animals, plain and simple. We have needs for food, shelter, more food, sleep, reproduction, and more food :)
Yes, I live in an amazing “shelter” and spend a great deal of time gardening, but deep down inside, I’m just an animal.
When it all comes down to it, this is my cave, my primary shelter. I stock it with food, and it’s where I want to raise my spawn (grin).
It is my belief that despite all the trappings of modern society, we really have evolved very little in the past several million years. We just “wear different clothes”.
That belief system came to me because of running…
But I never took the realization to the logical conclusions.
If all of us are just animals, then what does that mean about the way we behave collectively?
We operate out of needs. Needs to protect our food, shelter, personal security, etc.
And that’s where Bruce has been focusing.
What and how do humans behave regarding their need to feel secure?
So, where my understanding of Bruce’s thinking was pretty cerebral before, it’s now been connected to me in a more personal way.
Interesting stuff. I’ll have to spend some time today contemplating.
Fortunately, I have lots on the honey-do list. That’ll supply me ample time.
I wonder if I would be pulling weeds outside my cave 50,000 years ago…
Jocelyn doesn’t understand that excuse though, so I’m off to get my gloves.
Cheers,
Bill