Humans Are Animals

Substack link - https://open.substack.com/pub/jamesbranagan/p/human-animals?r=phje8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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VIDEO DESCRIPTION:

Humans are animals. With this, there are some ingrained, genetically-inherited behaviour patterns that rear their ugly heads (and their heads are truly ugly!) under certain circumstances. When humans undergo resource contraction, we begin to look at other populations as sources of wealth and resources. This ushers in zero-sum-game type dynamics, and types of behaviour our modern sensibilities would consider gruesome, diabolical, abominable, and generally undesirable. We would do well to avoid such a response in modern times. As the technologies we have at our disposal are incompatible with these genetically-encoded behaviour patterns. Should we choose to abide by these deeply ingrained modes of behaviour, we run the risk of wiping ourselves out. Given the technological powers we have developed, without having developed what should have been concomitant wisdom and prudence.

We humans have yet to come to terms with Darwin’s deep insights. We still refuse to consider ourselves as one among many other animal species. This is warranted to some extent. There are some glaringly obvious differences between the human species and every other species. That we are so ecologically dominant is one. That we are the only species to “consume” energy in the form of extra-corporeal energy (fire, cooking, fossil fuels) is another major difference.
But we remain essentially animal in nature. We are of this earth, and it is to this earthy earth we will inevitably return.
Sometimes, through breathwork (or other means of altering my consciousness) I find myself in what seems to be a dark, indifferent, mysterious place where my humanness is significantly reduced, and I get a peek in at my own very animal self. It’s a strange experience, but one that has recurred a number of times. Enough for me to be able to identify and speak to it!
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Summary
00:55 Animal darkness
03:38 Writing process
04:49 Deep-dive
06:11 Relevancy of this message
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