Book 258 - A Year of Magical Learning

Reflection Title: Homo Humilis!

Book – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (Part 5/5)

Book Description: From a renowned historian comes a groundbreaking narrative of humanity’s creation and evolution—a #1 international bestseller—that explores the ways in which biology and history have defined us and enhanced our understanding of what it means to be “human.”

One hundred thousand years ago, at least six different species of humans inhabited Earth. Yet today there is only one—homo sapiens. What happened to the others? And what may happen to us?

Most books about the history of humanity pursue either a historical or a biological approach, but Dr. Yuval Noah Harari breaks the mold with this highly original book that begins about 70,000 years ago with the appearance of modern cognition. From examining the role evolving humans have played in the global ecosystem to charting the rise of empires, Sapiens integrates history and science to reconsider accepted narratives, connect past developments with contemporary concerns, and examine specific events within the context of larger ideas.

Reflection:

We really think we are so much smarter than all the other creatures in this world.

Hell, we even had the nerve to give ourselves the name of Homo Sapiens, which is Latin for Wise Man or Clever Man. Think about that for a second, we named ourselves wise. It almost makes me laugh at how stupid and short sided that sounds.

Have you ever come across someone that is so arrogant and tells you how great they are and how much they understand that you don’t? Take a second to get that visual in your mind…Got it?

When I close my eyes and think of this person, my mind immediately goes to Cecily Strong’s “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party” caricature she does every once in a while on SNL’s Weekend Update segment. It is hilarious. Here’s a great quote from one of her skits, “There are homeless people in this world that can’t even afford their mortgage. Is that what George Washington wanted when he started America? It’s like…read something Seth! Learn a book!”

If that doesn’t make you laugh then I feel sorry for you.

We all know this is just for fun and she is making a caricature of that person that thinks they know everything but is horrendously clueless about life; however, just like every great caricature, there is a lot of truth buried underneath the in-your-face overtness of her performance. This girl thinks she is truly understands it all, and because of this has the license to tell everyone else why they are dumb and missing the bigger picture. I’m sure if you asked her, she would probably proudly label herself a “Wise Woman” without hesitation. All the while this is going on the rest of the world will humor her insanity and grandiosity while they secretly laugh at her ignorance behind her back.

What does this have to do with Sapiens? Great question - This is the thought that came to mind as I was learning about Humans and the agriculture revolution when the author asks the brilliant question of, “Who domesticated Whom?” in that whole process.

For humans to produce crops, we had to forsake our nomadic roots and settle down in one area in order to farm. We gave up a life of adventure, randomness, variety of foods, regular exercise, and unique experiences for a life of tilling the land, minding our crops, and building villages and civilizations to settle in one place because we couldn’t leave our primary food source. The rest is history.

All the while, these plants massively proliferated their species at the expense of our time, labor, and sometimes even health. They had someone to constantly take care of them and make sure they survived to pass on their DNA from generation to generation. They got us to change everything for them. Who’s the wise one now?

Just like we all do with the girl at the party that no one wants to talk to, we all humor her “genius” to her face while we laugh at her behind her back and strategize our next moves.

I used to think humans were the top of the food chain, smartest creatures in the world, and the apex predator of this world. I had no doubt in my mind. I mean, we have words, imaginations, communication, culture, opposable thumbs, can invent anything, etc. Who or what in this world can beat that?

These days, I’m not so sure anymore.

After this journey I’ve been on, I now see the world differently. I look at all the other life forms in this world and the brilliance of their design, see the subtle nature of how they communicate and share information, and recognize how much we are outnumbered by them. I see us now as just one piece of the bigger picture. No better or no worse than anything or anybody else that calls this planet or universe home.

We have a role to play and a purpose to fulfill, but so does everything else.

Instead of self-proclaiming our species as the “wise man”, wouldn’t it be better to call ourselves Homo Humilis or “humble man” to remind us that we don’t know anything? Something to think about.

Question: Which would you rather be, a wise person or a humble person?

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Links:

What is The Year of Magical Learning? An Introduction

YOML Podcast Discussion - Coming Soon

YOML Bookstore - Sapiens