Security vs. Ennui

In the last post I posited that order and predictability are basic human values. The ability to see order and predict what will happen based upon that perception is the basic skill that has allowed humans to survive and, in fact, dominate this world. There are other creatures with physical attributes that far out weigh our human physical attributes. Why is it that we puny humans have survived and dominated?

Clearly, the human brain has given the human species an inordinate advantage over competing species. And what the human brain does best is to organize perception into patterns. That is the ability that has allowed us to, not only survive, but to thrive as a species.

The human brain excels in perceiving patterns and predicting future events based upon those patterns. The survival value of this skill is so great that, over the span of time. it has become an innate human value in and of itself. We like patterns because they give us a head start on survival..., they make us feel secure, and security is highly valued!

The problem is that, once we have attained security, we begin to become bored with it all!  We want security and safety - but too much security and safety leaves us in a state of ennui or boredom. What shall we do to introduce a bit of excitement into our lives?

Well, we can go out and start a fight. That happens quite often. It may be verbal fight or it may be a full scale war, but at least ennui is no longer an issue. However the problem with fighting is that it can be deadly. Although we don't want to be bored, most of us do want to remain among the living.

HOLD ON! I WILL GET TO THE POINT...

This is where Art (notice the capital "A") comes into the human equation. Art, whether literature, drama, music, dance, etc., allows us to experience and expand life without putting us into physical danger. Instead of actually going out and getting into a conflict, we can read a novel, attend a movie, etc. and experience the conflict with the danger. Thus art, whether drama, literature, dance, music, etc. allows us to experience a more complete range of human experience. Art makes us more human.

The innate and strong urge that we have for recognizing and organizing patterns and our strong urge to use those patterns to predict what will happen next are the underlying human characteristics that make Art (capital "A") possible.

Oversimplification?  Perhaps. But stay tuned for the next blog.