It's a Wonderful Life

January 12, 2010 09:13 +0000 | Passing Thoughts Self Reflection 9

A lot of people have read this thinking that it was an exercise in self-loathing or a cry for help of sorts. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was purely an existential question based in the thinking that at the core, humanity hasn't changed that much through the course of our history. New titles, different roles is all. Anyway, thanks for the support everyone, but I'm fine, honest :-)

You know how in that movie, George Bailey finds out just what the world would be like if he'd never existed? The moral of the story is supposed to be how significant your own minor contributions have been to the tapestry of your life, but I was just thinking...

In the grand scheme of things, the unremarkable of us (that is to say, pretty much everyone but a remarkable few) don't really have lasting effects on the world as a whole. Rather, our greatest effects, if we have any at all, are usually on those we care about, those to whom we are closest.

Given this reality, is this idea that we are somehow integral to "the world" in our own small way, really just a egocentric fantasy? How different would the world really be if one of us never existed? Wouldn't it be more honest to say that the tiny part of the world about which we care the most would be different? Isn't it a bit presumptuous to think that every one of us is integral to the balance of society?

Humanity hasn't changed much in the last few thousand years. Sometimes, I wonder if any of us really matter at all.

Comments

Isis B.
12 Jan 2010, 9:43 a.m. |

Oooh. Ha, I'm going to think about this and write a more meaningful reply when I have more time. For now suffice it to say good line of questioning, it's important to burst the bubble of egocentric thought however there is a realization that comes after worth exploring. As my poet might say, only after one has contemplated and glimpsed one's own insignificance in infinity, can one then see one's own divinity. ~I.B.

Theresa
12 Jan 2010, 11:05 a.m. |

I don't think it's egocetric to feel that doing one's part makes a difference. It's even more selfish to not do one's part in making the world a bit better. The remarkable people that you mention are only so because of their ability to affect the thoughts, behaviour and understading of the "average" person, to influence people and inspire them to all do their little bit to change things.
It probably wouldn't make much difference if you or I or anyone as an individual decided to just not care anymore. But imagine the chaos if everyone did it? In the same way, you might only be able to influence a handful of your closest to do better, but imagine the network of good if everyone inspired a few people.

I have to believe it's worth the effort.

Melanie
13 Jan 2010, 5:09 a.m. |

the answer for me is that we do matter, to each other. which is all that really matters. who else is there?

for your sake, though, I wonder: how are you measuring the change humanity has gone through over the past few thousand years? who are you comparing us to? Considering that modern man has only been around for about 200,000 years (as opposed to dinosaurs who are awesome and were around for about 160 million years), how much change are you reasonably expecting?

Robin
13 Jan 2010, 9:09 a.m. |

"In the grand scheme of things, the unremarkable of us (that is to say, pretty much everyone but a remarkable few) don't really have lasting effects on the world as a whole. Rather, our greatest effects, if we have any at all, are usually on those we care about, those to whom we are closest."

Assuming this is correct, isn't it enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LeLZ2crZE

Roy
19 Jan 2010, 2:56 a.m. |

You folks are way to scary-smart :-p

Taavi
19 Jan 2010, 6:40 p.m. |

My line of thinking is along Theresa's. One individual probably makes little to no difference to the world as a whole, but a lot of individuals really do add up, and it does take each individuals insignificant contributions to make a difference.

The strong and weak nuclear forces don't hold the Earth in orbit, but they sure do keep the sun burning. And we need both for Earth as we know it. :)

Donna
20 Jan 2010, 6:48 a.m. |

aah... but then, what is the meaning of life? What is the point in all this anyway? Does it really matter if we don't make a difference in the grand scheme of things?

One could say that the purpose is the prolong the survival and/or success of the species, in which case one would also argue that you contribute to the success of the next generation (be that by actually having children, or by contributing to the success of others' children).
But one could also say that there is no real point to the whole thing so we might as well just make sure we enjoy ourselves as much as possible while we're here.

Either way, my conclusion is that you need a hug.

Taavi
22 Jan 2010, 3:23 p.m. |

Hugs, always. :)

Daniel
22 Jan 2010, 4:36 p.m. |

Aw, thanks everyone for your offers of cyber-hugs, but really, I'm fine. This post was in no way self-reflective (despite my tagging it that way, oops). I've added a disclaimer at the top as an explanation.

@Robin, I love your answer.

@Melanie, we've already talked about this, but in response to your question about how I gauge change, it's really all about the level at which you measure it. When I look at what I know about human history I see 5000years of class struggle with little or no movement toward quality. There are still those in power who exploit the weak. The needs of the people haven't changed (food, shelter, water, security), and neither have the means of exploitation: threatening to withhold any or all of the above.

Sometimes, it just feels like an ego exercise to consider one's place in history to be so important. I think I'm going to go with Robin on this one.