I have been under the impression for a long while that the separation of man from the rest of the animal kingdom has simply been that we’ve created a more formalized social system; that our existence is merely a complex set of learned behaviors, remarkably similar to the behaviors of our closest genetic relatives. Looking at our hierarchical structures, both social and political, it’s an easy stand to justify.
I was wrong.
What makes humans different, what makes us remarkable, is our passion. An unwaivering resolve to learn, to discover, to create. To obsess over things that transcend biological imperatives and nurture the sustained joy of following something we truly love. It’s a rarity to see in a world seemingly content to pursue one simple, hedonistic event after the next; a meandering path from one transient smile to another. The lack of passion is a resignation from our species, of what it is to be human.
Any contempt I hold for the majority of the population is merely a reflection of my inability to actualize my thoughts. My concentration dwindles even when I’m passionate about my work. There is nothing more dehumanizing than being lost.
