Human Behaviour Does Not Change
by
Sam Loschiavo
The terrorist attack on New York City, September 11, 2001, elicited feelings of horror, revulsion and incredulity in some parts of the world, and celebration in others. The emotions of those closest to the scene were captured by unforgiving cameras, and were broadcast around the world. Some people were quoted as saying that this tragedy has changed the world forever. I'm not sure what is meant by this statement. If it is to suggest that human nature or behaviour will be improved as a result, I rather doubt it. I believe that human nature and behaviour do not change.
We are not as civilized as we would like to believe. Humans are capable of behaviour ranging from noble and courageous to sadistic and savage. The former is rare, the latter, common.
Homo sapiens is at the top of the evolutionary scale zoologically, but in a behavioral sense, he and she do not deserve to be there. Even the species term sapiens is a misnomer because it signifies wisdom — a trait that is sadly lacking in humankind. This creature has plenty of knowledge but lacks the will or ability to use it wisely. Since prehistoric times, humans have manipulated and exploited other humans. In more recent times humans have spent billions of dollars to create and use means of mass destruction while billions of their own species die of disease and starvation. Has human nature changed?
Some humans have more resources than they need or could ever use. Others don't have enough to afford food and shelter, and are therefore forced to steal. Since Cain slew Abel, crime has been part of the human equation and still is today. Has anything changed? Crime, as humans practise it, is unknown in the animal world. So-called lower animals kill for food or in defence of their family, but not out of jealousy, hatred, a desire to conquer, enslave or impose religious beliefs on others, or because they covet other animals' belongings. Lower animals don't have belongings in the human sense.
We may consider whether the inequitable distribution of wealth in the world of humans and a lack of natural justice are, in part, responsible for human unrest and criminal activity. Whatever the reasons and the causes, humankind has demonstrated repeatedly through the course of human history that it is capable of unspeakable acts of inhumanity, the most recent being the attack in New York City. A more descriptive and apt term for homo sapiens would be homo sap.
There is a poem about two monkeys discussing human behaviour. For example: family desertion, child abandonment, cruelty, irresponsibility, accumulation of property, starvation, stealing, and murder. The poem ends with these lines:
Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss,
But brother, he didn't descend from us.
