Mutual Support vs. Mutual Struggle

It has become apparent with the frequent and ongoing tumult faced by our human race, collectively we need to explore how to survive.

Charles Darwin is famous for his studies on natural selection from which British economist, Herbert Spencer, extracted the highly popular phrase “survival of the fittest.” There is much debate in scientific circles whether that phrase accurately describes natural selection. Further research suggests survival of the fittest is more accurately stated as “survival of the fit enough.”  

One can look at the human race today for various examples of the truth behind this last statement. Advances in science and medicine have aided in providing human beings with the ability to sustain a longer life. Genetically or through the introduction of disease and other factors, some individuals may not have had a chance otherwise.

The whole point, though, is to explore the fundamental principles behind our survival. Some will agree: survival is a collective thing. Drawing from Pyotor (Peter) Kropotkin, a Russian evolutionist, in an excerpt (via Wikipedia) from his book, “Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution,” he effectively describes what is meant by “collective survival.”

In the animal world we have seen that the vast majority of species live in societies, and that they find in association the best arms for the struggle for life: understood, of course, in its wide Darwinian sense — not as a struggle for the sheer means of existence, but as a struggle against all natural conditions unfavourable to the species. The animal species, in which individual struggle has been reduced to its narrowest limits, and the practice of mutual aid has attained the greatest development, are invariably the most numerous, the most prosperous, and the most open to further progress.

In the practice of mutual aid, which we can retrace to the earliest beginnings of evolution, we thus find the positive and undoubted origin of our ethical conceptions; and we can affirm that in the ethical progress of man, mutual support not mutual struggle – has had the leading part. In its wide extension, even at the present time, we also see the best guarantee of a still loftier evolution of our race.

We suggest reading the last two excerpted paragraphs again. Let it sink in to the core of your being. Fully understand what is being conveyed. Focus on the words in bold. The main philosophy behind this post is expressed in those paragraphs. The basis for human survival lies in mutual support not mutual struggle.

Conceptually, that is what we should look to accomplish within our societies: A collective community of like-minded individuals working together to find the key to survival for, not only ourselves, but our progeny. As Kropotkin pointed out: the best defenses are those focused on the “struggle against all natural conditions unfavorable to the species” and not just for the sheer means of existence of the individual.

It can be seen in the support given during all catastrophes. Whether local or worldwide, humans tend to collectively come together to offer aid and assistance. Family, friends, and oftentimes strangers come from far and wide, not to struggle with those they are aiding, but, to offer support. Whole nations are offering citizens of other nations much-needed support. Our collective human mission should be to abide by this one simple principle: mutual support not mutual struggle. 

Survival depends on support. It’s proactive. It’s long-lasting and far-reaching. And, it can have many positive residual effects. Mutual struggle is reactive and negative. Suffering together, by choice, does nothing but ease the mind of those who believe misery loves company. Instead of aiding in the survival of those affected it has the potential of affecting those initially unaffected.

Our collective human mission should be to abide by this one simple principle: mutual support not mutual struggle.

Summarily, our mission and philosophy as human beings should be to offer mutual support for all those seeking it. Whether you view it as survival of the fittest or survival of the fit enough, the overall view should be towards collective survival.

It's simple, the next time you see someone struggling, offer some support. Our survival as a species depends on it.