The one thing that comes to mind with understanding the human condition ,after seeing the bitter realities of this world is, “How Can I Change This World?”.
People have suppressed their empathy to become selfish, which is driving the world to chaos.
The desire to change the world may sound heroic, but changing the world means changing the human condition, which is not as easy as it sounds.
Ironically, most of us don’t know what exactly a human condition is about. How can we even think about changing it?
So What is the Human Condition?
Humans are superlative species from other beings of this world.
They can recall the past, imagine the future, and plan out the present.
Most importantly, they can question themselves and the earth.
For instance, why am I born? Why does the flower blossom?
And why is oxygen essential for me?
This struggle to find out the unearthed mysteries is what constitutes the human condition.
The same quest has led the man to recognize the traits that are intrinsic to human nature.
These traits are an amalgam of both bright and dark aspects of life, and that’s what makes the basis of human nature.
However, a lack of understanding of the human condition is deteriorating this world.
Hence, the first step to change this world is completely familiarising yourself with human nature.
Interestingly, philosophy and literature hold different definitions.
Let’s look at both of them to have a better understanding of instincts of humans.
Philosophical Definition
Philosophy says that the human condition is simply the positive and negative traits of human life.
The word ‘condition’ might trigger someone as if it is a disease, but that’s not a case at all. In fact, ‘condition’ refers to the time from birth to death and whatever we do in between that time.
It includes reproduction, love, compassion, logic, critical thinking, hate and war.
Literatrary Definition
Whereas, literature gurus have a different opinion.
They take the human condition as a thematic approach and describe it as innate human nature.
This again brings us to the point that the human condition is nothing but the basis of human existence.
This basis can be:
- How do we live?
- Why do we act like parents?
- What do we eat?
- Appreiate the travel habits?
- Understand the likes and dislikes of an average human?
- Going to an evil state of mind and how do we gel in overall?
It’s evident that philosophers and literature gurus do agree that the it is an amalgam of good and evil traits.
Let’s quickly understand the positive characteristics first and then see what constitutes the negativity in us.
The Positive Instincts of The Human Condition
We, as humans, are blessed to have positivity instilled in us from the beginning.
Utilising this positivity in the right way can help us transform the world.
Some of such traits include love, passion, morals, and empathy.
Exercising them at the right time can help you make this world a happy place to live in.
These are the top five traits that I think can have a positive impact on your personality and the world as a whole.
1. Freedom
The most important aspect of the human condition to me is freedom.
As humans, you have the liberty to speak, write, eat, walk, hold opinions and express them without interference from the second party.
This means we can tell others when they are wrong and suggest them to rectify their actions to bump (bring up the positivity).
However, with the freedom of expression comes the responsibility.
Thus, recognize your boundaries and use your freedom within those boundaries.
One of the reasons for the demise of the present world is that humans are surpassing their limitations.
As someone who wants to change the world and bring positivity, you should know the importance of the right use of freedom.
If you’d try to go beyond your boundaries, then authorities have the right to restrict your freedom to avoid unlawful situations.
2. Uncertainty
You must be thinking of how uncertainty can lead to a better world, but trust me, Uncertainty drives the human race.
Undoubtedly, with the advancement of technology, a lot of things have become certain.
For instance, the knowledge of weather forecasts has made it possible to predict the rainfall.
But, still, there are several times rain does not fall when as predicted, which means mother nature wants us to live in the uncertainty.
Similarly, the COVID-19 outbreak is a massive example of how uncertainties are meant to happen regardless of how far we go in the technology.
These uncertainties have meaning & purpose that are underlying them.
If everything would have been so sure, then what would have driven the creativity within us?
If we’d known things for sure, we’d never burnt the midnight oil to achieve our goals.
For example, if we’d know we were going to close a particular sale, we would never work hard to make our product look the best.
Take a moment and think!
Therefore, the best way to live with uncertainties is to use them as opportunities.
Perhaps, with the prevailing risk, you can make people aware that their wrong actions can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
3. Equality
Another innate trait of that is utterly important in bringing the world to peace is equality.
Only if we fully acknowledge the potential of equality will this world have peace in its real sense.
There are definite reasons humans have a desire for fairness as their intrinsic nature.
The top of them is to bring tranquility to the society we live in.
Moreover, equality increases productivity and imparts a sense of inclusion, which overall contributes to the formation of a better society.
How come then equality doesn’t improve the deteriorated human condition?
It is essential to equally treat black and white , negate gender discrimination, and let minorities contributors in the economy.
However, equality alone cannot do justice to the betterment of this world.
You cannot pursue equality if you do not have feelings.
4. Feelings
One intrinsic trait that defines other traits is feelings.
We can feel love, passion, sympathy, and happiness. At the same time, we also experience hate, anxiety and sadness.
Yes, humans have both good and bad feelings, but to transform the world, we need to embrace the positive ones.
The seven billion people in the universe get to interact with each other daily.
If there is no respect for feelings, then we can never bring global tranquility.
Exercising these four traits can play a significant role in world transformation.
Still, it is better to understand what is driving these traits. I am talking about morals here!
5. Morals
Yes, it is your morals that will define limitations to your freedom, expression of your feelings, and the extent of equality that needs to be implemented.
I really believe that we are human beings, less and moral beings more.
No offence at all.
The freedom to choose our religion, and hence morals, make us unique from the rest of the creatures.
We can differentiate between virtuous and evil deeds.
Still, our conscience makes us privileged enough to state the reason behind such acts.
That’s why it is essential to understand your morals and stand by them in times of hope as well as despair.
When you choose to act morally wrong, that is where the darker side of the human condition jumps in.
It gives rise to the negative traits that were otherwise suppressed by positive characteristics.
The Negative Traits of the Human Condition
Consequently, narrow-mindedness and narcissism become the eventual outcome of the deteriorating human condition.
1. Narcissism
Narcissism is something we all are born with. It is natural to seek admiration.
The need and entitlement that eventually makes the narcissism a human condition.
But at the same time, we all lack empathy occasionally. For instance, getting into power and control makes people selfish and grandiosity.
When narcissism overtakes the ego, you lose empathy, become obnoxious and look down upon those who admire you.
Narcissism then becomes the first step of the world’s decline.
2. Narrow-Minded and Dogmatic
One of the evident outcomes of narcissism is becoming dogmatic.
It implies that you won’t listen to what others say, thinking you are the ‘only right.’
Instead of looking into themselves, they belittle those who make them correct.
They walk with inflated views of their abilities, which make them overconfident.
The vain confidence leads only to self-destruction at an individual level and war on a global scale.
3. War
However, narcissism alone makes rage war.
The probable reason for war being part of the human condition is that we are fighting for resources.
When compared to the demand, the resources are approximately less than two times.
With the narcissism comes the greed to take control over everything.
When they fail to find a middle ground, they end up quarrelling, fighting and eventually destroying each other.
In Summary
In a nutshell, the betterment of the world lies in humility and self-insight of humans.
Human nature is beautiful, but the lack of or knowledge has made a mess out of it.
The current world scenario demands us to acknowledge our shortcomings, cultivate positive instinct.