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People find contentment in putting animals on the same level as humans. The way they blow small similarities out of proportion almost seems as if they enjoy comparing themselves to animals.
It’s not that they’re wrong; not fully, at least. Some birds, especially parrots, are able to mimic human speech almost perfectly. Apes and monkeys have opposable thumbs and even ants share the need for order and authority. But there is at least one major thing that separates humans from the rest: survival of the fittest does not apply to them.
Business certainly helps to make people think otherwise. In show business, whoever’s strength lies in looks or acting skills outshines the rest. In the judicial system, whichever lawyer provides the strongest argument for her or his client wins the case. In big business, the stronger monopolies blot the smaller companies out of the industry. It has become common knowledge that business is cruel as genocide (possibly crueler). Since so many people feel that way, does it still mean survival of the fittest applies to them?
Evolution is considered the most accepted theory among scientists. Philosopher Herbert Spencer came up with the term “survival of the fittest” but Darwin famously associated it with evolution. From the broadest perspective, it means lions ruling the jungle, wolves leading the forest, and sharks controlling the seas. It means that the strong will survive, and the weak must suffer.
Apply it to people and it must mean rape victims deserve what’s coming to them, murderers are simply better off than the rest, and politicians are perfect. No. It doesn’t work that way. In reality, people shun rapists, prosecute murderers, and often hate politicians.
However, survival of the fittest does not involve strength alone. More specifically, many scientists argue that it includes a range of things such as ability to cooperate, levels of intelligence, resourcefulness, craftiness, appearance, leadership, and many other factors. It’s not all about the world being a bitter struggle to survive.
Looking at it that way, it makes sense that survival of the fittest applies to every species, including the human race. After all, how did Bill Gates become successful? He may not have invented the software now known now as Microsoft, but he was cunning enough to copyright it as his own. Why is Oprah so wealthy and well-off? Her friendly personality and outgoing atmosphere makes people like her, which earns her money. How did Richard T. James make so much money off The Slinky™? Although it may have been accidental, his hard work and dedication paid off and developed an adored, playful children’s toy.
What made Adolf Hitler rise to power?
It’s true. “Stronger” people find it much easier to thrive. But they are so much different from animals.
Animals can kill without blinking an eye. A ravaging crocodile normally doesn’t care who or what its victim is. Animals can use rape as a proud sign of dominance. It’s seen all the time between sibling dogs, male or female. But then, that’s still dwelling on the physical. Deadbeat parents are quite common in modern society, but they are looked down upon. To dolphins, it is their way of life: once the female has delivered a calf, the males who gangbanged her have already moved on. Rams and deer fight to impress females of their kind, but to humans, relationships are far too complicated to rely only on impressing someone. Chameleons and some types of moths worry only about blending in with their surroundings, but to the soldier what really matters is what happens once he or she is found.
The motives of humankind differ greatly from those of animals. Animals think only of survival. People are not satisfied with only this; they want to live. It’s one of the biggest reasons why suicide rates are as they are. Animals never stop and think, “What if what I did was wrong?” People consider the moral value of the choices they and others make. Adolf Hitler took advantage of the weak economy and low spirits of Germany, but eventually he fell. He is blamed for the deaths of millions but was driven to suicide because he saw he was losing the war. Many people question the ethics of Bill Gates, and of course that doesn’t change the fact that he’s flourishing, but people are able to look past that fact and consider his flaws.
Sometimes, stupid or plain wrong decisions get what people want, but that doesn’t mean they are victorious. Imagine a man desperately needs a promotion but his chances are low because his female co-worker holds a much better performance history. There is one advantage, though. This man knows his boss happens to be gay – and sexually active. Even though the man isn’t homosexual himself, he needs a pay raise to benefit his large, struggling family. So he adapts himself – he evolves, so to speak – to mischievously sleep with his boss and earn himself that much needed pay raise.
He gets what he needed, but at what cost? First of all, there’s got to be an enormous amount of guilt that comes from realizing that he cheated (and in more ways than one). Maybe he won’t be able to live with that guilt. He may turn himself in, or even spontaneously quit to work at Burger King instead. Secondly, there’s always that high risk of sexually transmitted diseases. He might be hospitalized, missing so much work that he is laid off and must hand his position to his lucky co-worker.
There are many risks to consider in any situation. Sometimes, even if people triumph they still don’t feel any self-worth. Sometimes the way they do things is considered so “disgusting” it doesn’t even matter that they won anymore.
If there’s one creature whose “survival of the fittest” matches human’s most, it’s the mosquito. They don’t need to be crafty; all they need to do is selfishly suck blood. The worst part is how annoying they are about it, whining in the ears of their victims before leaving their itching scar as a mark of victory. Then the victim is left swiping at the air like an idiot, failing to strike the loathed bloodsucker.
But eventually, that mosquito is brutally crushed by its own victim, made nothing but a smear on the wall.
--This essay is copyrighted to myself--
 Lady Ironarm · Wed Mar 25, 2009 @ 09:38am · 0 Comments |
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