Fictions of Survival

Survival and the Role of Intelligence in Human Collaboration

Any living being can survive in the absence of a threat because all creatures have intrinsic skills to eat, excrete, and reproduce. If a creature doesn’t eat, it will die of starvation; if it doesn’t defecate, it will suffer from fecal impaction; and if it doesn’t engage in the consensual act of reproduction, its gene pool will move closer to extinction.

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All creatures can support the survival of their genes on this planet as long as they use these three survival skills. Based on these intrinsic skills—eating, excreting, and reproducing—genes can survive and continue to live in a homogeneous environment. In such an environment, every being performs similar activities: eating, excreting, and reproducing. Their offspring will do the same, creating a cycle of self-centered existence where creatures do not concern themselves with their fellows’ well-being.

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However, the presence of a threat breaks this homogeneous pattern of self-centric survival acts. Whether the threat is environmental or comes from other creatures, it is the most significant factor that brings about collaboration and communication. In any setting, from the Amazon forest to an urban concrete jungle, threats are critical to cooperation among creatures. A creature that operates self-centrically during the absence of threats becomes part of a collaborative and communicative group when faced with danger, fighting harder for survival. Once the threat diminishes, creatures revert to their primary survival rules: eating, excreting, and reproducing, abandoning collaboration and communication in their homogeneous habitats.

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What lies beyond threat that can make creatures collaborate and communicate for their survival and the betterment of their genes? The answer is intelligence. This intelligence, when used to create products, sets humans apart from the rest of the creatures. Intelligence that triggers collaboration and communication leads to numerous products that humans use for these purposes.

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This intelligence is evident in the production of goods through human intellect and physical strength. Humans exchange their products with fellow humans using communication, and these products are often the result of collaborative efforts. A product created through human cooperation can be used for bartering and fulfilling various needs.

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Humans are the only species that create products, both physical and intellectual, and barter them with fellow humans using collaboration and communication skills. No other creature is more intelligent than humans, who, while still eating, excreting, and reproducing, also produce through their physical and intellectual capabilities. This ability places humans at the top of the pyramid of living creatures, allowing them to rule the planet. We, humans, live and survive based on the byproducts of our collaboration and communication with fellow beings.

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Lastly, if you want to leave a legacy on this planet, live a life worthy of a human, not just a creature.

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The central idea of the blog (generated by ChatGPT) is that while all living creatures have basic survival skills—eating, excreting, and reproducing—humans stand out due to their ability to collaborate and communicate, particularly when faced with threats. This unique capability, driven by intelligence, allows humans to create products through both intellectual and physical means, facilitating trade and mutual support. Ultimately, this sets humans apart from other creatures, enabling them to thrive and leave a lasting legacy on the planet beyond mere survival.

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Author: Asif Durrani

Dated: 16 Jun 2024

https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/asifdurrani

Also published at Medium: https://medium.com/@asifdurranipk/fictions-of-survival-207d0bf51262