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Questioning The Nature of Humanity
Who are we? Why are we here? Where did we come from? What truly matters in our lives? These fundamental questions shape our understanding of existence. At the heart of this inquiry lies a profound realization: society is a human construct, a perception that divides our reality into two spheres: the physical world and the symbols we have created to understand it. This distinction is what sets us apart from all other animals and marks the beginning of civilization itself.
In order to make sense of our existence, we have to acknowledge that the systems we deal with on a daily basis—such as nations, laws, and currencies—are mostly made-up tales that result from human creativity. Aside from the laws of nature, nearly everything else is a belief system built on shared understandings. While there are objective truths that are universally acknowledged, cognitive biases often cloud our perception, leading us to experience reality in a subjective way.
The philosopher Alan Watts observed, “We seldom realize, for example, that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own.” The words and images that society uses to describe the world have a profound impact on our perception of it, changing our emotions and thoughts in ways that we may not always recognize.
Consider the notion of “things” in nature. In a strict sense, nothing exists purely as an inherent “thing.” Humans invented the notions of latitude and longitude lines, inches and meters, minutes and hours, and other constructs to make sense of our surroundings. Countries, borders, maps, and even the money we use to measure wealth are all creations that help us navigate our lives.
But what happens when we challenge the notion of money being an absolute necessity? Many individuals feel insecure at the suggestion that money isn’t everything. When asked how society could function without taxes or bills, with the government simply providing for everyone’s needs, the immediate reaction is often, “Where will the money come from?” This reaction reveals our entrenched belief that money is a limited resource. In actuality, money is just a tool—an invention designed to facilitate the measurement and exchange of wealth, similar to…
