Human Paradox

Survival needs Simplicity

Perpetuation of life on earth requires simplicity. Humans are simple enough to survive, but complex enough to question everything. If our needs, thinking and instincts were complex we wouldn’t survive. Simplicity is an evolutionary necessity. As discussed in an earlier post, the very habit if life is to perpetuate itself by hook or by crook. Even in the ice age, seeds and cells lie dormant, ready to sprout when the conditions are right. The problem with humans is we aren’t that simple. Constant adaptation to adversity and changing conditions have forced an advancement of complexity of our brains.

Our Restless Quest

As our brains advanced, we started to look for meaning in life, a raison d’être. We need an explanation for why things go wrong. Over time spiritual systems and various philosophies have tried to answer the eternal burning question – “why are we here and what’s out purpose?” The spiritual systems provide good guidance but are they timeless? They were written in a different epoch in geological time. With the advent of science and technology and the dwindling dependence on faith to survive the Hunger Games of life (referring to the movie – Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence) we begin to search for a deeper meaning in life that becomes our anchor, our “K” the Coulomb constant, in life’s equation. (Reference: In physics, Coulomb constant (k) is a proportionality factor in Coulomb’s law is approximately 9 × 10⁹ N·m²/C² and determines the strength of the electrostatic force between two-point charges.)

The Randomness Problem vs Cosmic Order

Frameworks of Fate

Among the various tenets of theology and theosophy, two major lines of thinking emerge. One is there is only one life backed by Christian scripture and the other the theory of karmic cycle and reincarnation (cosmic order) backed by Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. One urges us to live life to the fullest the other urges us to be mindful of our actions as both positive and negative will have ripple effects in the current and subsequent lifetimes. The former, ‘one life’ idea allows for experimentation and learning from your mistakes but leaves suffering, inequality, and unfair birth conditions unexplained. The latter, “Karmic cycle’ idea serves as a moral framework, encouraging individuals to think before they act, to choose actions that will help not harm others. It explains suffering, inequality, poverty, disabilities and unfair birth conditions as a result of bad or good karma; pleasant living conditions are a result of the good actions and unpleasant ones are attributed to bad. This philosophy gives our minds a framework to work within. But I can’t help but see an aspect of moral policing; do good deeds or else…. So, there’s also an element of self-motivated goodness. Imposed goodness will only last so long and will vanish as soon as a lucrative opportunity presents itself; for instant gratification is far more valuable to the man’s simple mind than the karmic debt to be paid in the next life – if there is one.

Randomness: Life’s Cruel Lottery

If you aren’t a believer of either philosophy, then a glaring fact of creation has to be its Randomness. The theory that there’s no rhyme or reason for our existence no cause and effect not consequences. The theory of randomness gives rise to moral uncertainty – if there are no consequences beyond this life, why be “good” or “right”? What motivation remains for good conduct if life is finite and outcomes seem arbitrary? Two people perform the same good action – one gets rewarded, the other ignored. Two people perform the same bad action – one is punished the other goes scot-free.

The Problem? – The deepest problem is unfairness. We are not born equally, and we do not begin life with equal chances, equal health, equal wealth, or equal safety. Randomness governs so much of existence that outcomes often feel arbitrary, and that can leave people feeling powerless, confused, and burdened by suffering they never chose. In such a world, it is easy to slip into fear, resentment, or resignation.

The Solution – Thrive vs Just Survive

Freedom’s Messy Dance

Life on earth doesn’t come with a manual. Civilization as an evolving, improvised project. Theological scriptures and social rules, as guiderails, are strict but not absolute. Breaking norms may lead to ostracism, but not always exclusion from life itself. This creates tension between social control and human freedom which is the tension between abiding by the rules and choosing free will itself. The cherry on the cake is our emotional immaturity as we navigate life’s potential randomness. Our schools do not teach emotional regulation. As a result, adults behave with the emotional immaturity of children when frustrated eventually becoming a societal problem.

Collective Ingenuity our Collective Responsibility

The solution? To shift our collective aim from mere survival to thriving. Civilisations do not need to be built only around control, punishment, and endurance; they can also be built around emotional maturity, ethical clarity, adaptability, and conscious living. If life does not come with a fixed manual, then wisdom lies in cultivating the inner and social tools that help us respond well to uncertainty/ randomness.

This is where the human ingenuity can be part of the solution. As discussed, my last post, we humans, in fact all living creatures, are always solving problems on a daily basis. Creativity is our survival tool and not just decorative. Except this time, it needs to be done collectively rather than individually. We need to keep asking hard questions, testing old ideas, and build better ways to live together.

Together is better – Simon Sinek

Practical strategies

Building a safer and better world is a collective human responsibility which requires us to sometimes put our individual ambitions on the back burner. Below I list down strategies and actions that can be practiced today to build a better world.

1 – Question inherited assumptions

We need to stop treating inherited rules (passed down scriptures and spiritual texts) as absolute law simply because they have survived time. Many social norms, moral codes, and cultural habits were shaped in conditions very different from ours. Some no longer serve human dignity and fairness. Collective responsibility begins when we start asking, “Does this still reduce suffering and support shared flourishing?” That means being willing to revise beliefs that protect power, preserve inequality, or silence people who question old beliefs.

2 – Invest in thriving

If we are serious about collective responsibility, then societies must create conditions where people can rest, think, create, heal, and relate without being constantly crushed by survival pressure. Creativity, learning, and emotional wellbeing are part of what makes humans. A civilisation that leaves people exhausted, isolated, and spiritually starved is not thriving, even if it looks productive on paper.

3 – Choose responsibility over helplessness

Randomness will always exist, and no person controls the whole structure of life. But collective responsibility means refusing to say, “Nothing can be done,” when harm is visible and change is possible. Each of us still participates in shaping it through our choices, institutions, habits, and silences. Collective responsibility is not about personal perfection; it is about staying engaged with the task of making conditions better for others, even when the outcome is uncertain.

4 – Emotional Literacy

Emotional regulation is not just a private coping skill; it is a civic virtue. When people cannot name what they feel, they are more likely to act out, dominate, withdraw, or harm others in frustration. A responsible society must therefore value emotional literacy. Unprocessed anger, shame, fear, and envy often spill into families, workplaces, schools, and politics – society in general. Learning to pause, name the feeling, and respond with awareness is one of the simplest ways to reduce unnecessary suffering.

5 – Treat wisdom as adaptive

What was once wise may not remain wise forever. Every era has blind spots. Collective responsibility requires the humility to admit that, and that inherited solutions may need to be rethought as the world changes. This does not mean rejecting tradition outright; it means treating tradition as a conversation starter, not a final authority. Real wisdom adapts to new realities while keeping its deeper ethical purpose intact: to reduce harm, increase understanding, and support human flourishing.

Shared moral direction

Taken together, these practices point toward a larger ethic: we are not here only to secure our own lives, but to help create a world where life is less brutal for everyone. That requires moving beyond personal ambition as the highest good and toward a broader sense of looking after each other. The measure of a civilisation is not how well it rewards the strong, but how seriously it takes the responsibility of caring for the vulnerable, correcting inherited harm, and making room for dignity.