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The more society advances, the more people adjust to live harmoniously with these changes. The question is, have these changes made people less like humans?
The world is ever-changing, and as long as their surroundings change, the need for people to constantly adjust and recalibrate their behaviors exist. But when does this fine-tuning last until humans become less like humans? Or is that ideology entirely impossible?
With how advanced the world has become, it’s no question that humans have also moderated their behavior to better suit their environment. In ancient times, they would have celebrated the first spark of fire. But with how accessible it had already become, people now seek more novel experiences to celebrate. People’s interests have become increasingly complex, and their minds more complicated to understand. Humans’ behavior in the past differs significantly from how they currently are.
But does this mean people have slowly let their genuine nature slip past their grasp as they journey to a more comfortable and modern society?
Civilization Is Making People Less Like Humans
Different environment requires different conduct.
By definition, human nature is what defines the species’ identity and characteristics, making humans uniquely human. It’s how they express themselves concerning their environment. But how have humans adjusted as society has been reduced to its simplistic and futuristic systems? To be in harmony with societal changes, have humans functioned less like humans?
This concept has been tackled in the book by Chet Shupe entitled Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness. The author provides a fresh perspective on humanity’s existence in correlation to civilization’s improvement.
At its core, the book discusses how modern civilization has shifted people’s needs and priorities for survival, highlighting how society has changed humans through time. Chet Shupe mentions that civilization’s demands have likewise shifted as time changes. It has subtly persuaded people to ignore their feelings and act less like humans. Instead of mindlessly following the rules of modern society, Chet Shupe lays out the truth of what humans genuinely need to be happy. What changes must they make to make life worthwhile and act in line with their genuine human nature?
The Changes Society Has Imposed on Humans
Society and culture shape the way people function. How they differ and progress influence how people view themselves and those around them. When people look around and compare their surroundings from five years ago, it’s no question about how progressive society has become.
With how complex the world is with its futuristic endeavors to alleviate people’s problems, how much of human nature has remained intact?
Humans Need for Deep and Profound Connections
In Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature, Chet Shupe writes how, at their core, what makes people happy isn’t luxury or privilege. Unlike how modern society makes success and happiness equivalent to money and wealth, Chet Shupe argues that connections define people’s depth. Although the more wealth one has, the more comfortable their lives become. This doesn’t mean they will naturally become happier humans.
People need emotional connections to thrive.
However, to succeed in the ever-changing and fast-moving society, emotions and connections have been pushed back. Instead, the hustle and bustle for monetary gains have been prioritized. Connections can easily be severed to make way for practicality and material demands. Society has now made people choose between living or connecting. To survive or live comfortably, people must lay down their emotional needs to work on societal demands for wealth.
Humans Embracing and Understanding Emotions
Another point highlighted in the book was how modern humans need to learn and take an interest in understanding why their feelings exist. Emotions are crucial in coloring life. But people interact in the modern world by swallowing what they genuinely feel. Instead of expressing their truth, they parade facades to appease and satisfy other people – especially the societal laws.
Chet Shupe mentions that the most fundamental question humans fail to ask is why feelings exist. With success primarily connected with achieving success in life, it’s imperative that people quickly find and live with their purpose. People are too focused on seeing and achieving this bigger picture that they fail to see and understand the subtle nuances of their nature. And this is where trouble often starts brewing – the failure of humans to embrace their emotions and vulnerabilities.
For society to fix this problem, people need to regain their human nature. How do they genuinely express themselves and not act less like humans? They have set aside this concept by placing more importance on living according to societal edicts. They stick to what’s practical in societal constructs rather than what their nature truly yearns for.