On the Nature of Human Identity

From the first assemblage of DNA, a curious phenomenon sprung. In all of its splendid vulnerability it leaped into existence. As these infinitesimal proteins wound their marvelous way, something grew. Surrounding itself, channeling in, excreting out. Every corpuscle doing its part to sustain the whole growing organism. Grow it did. It was not long before it could generate its own heat and motor its own muscle, moisten its own glistening eye and clench its opposing digits. Yes, something truly miraculous had come into existence; identity.

How was this different than the stone or the tree? What made this such a unique development? Well beyond the less obvious, the most obvious addition to the land of predicament is the special condition; perspective. Predicament itself had long existed, but the for-itself, much later observed by a frenchman named Sartre, was novel indeed. All of these individually lovely motorized cells had conjoined and created a glorious oneness. Something to work for and contribute to. Something to invest in and model around. Something to act on behalf of and even defend. Oh how this junction of object and subject changed everything. The mind like a prism to the white light of objectivity, divided the world into the myriad facets of infinite possibility; ideas.

Now the world had exceeded the miracle of simple existence, and compounded itself an infinite number of times. The newly conceived identity would not be limited to a single being, as it rose biologically, ever nearer perfection. Soon it would spread from the few to the many. As each of the cells had collectively assembled the individual, so these novel beings composed a clan or a tribe and soon a nation. The same forces applied, and the motives remained. Self interest and expanded powers. A wider array of skills could develop, and art and science were not far behind. As biology dictated, procreation continued identity into successive generations. History became an element of identity; memory.

With the development of nations came homelands and borders. Farmland supplanted forest as the source of sustenance. Land and memory became intertwined in identity. The body expanded itself to include the predicament earth itself. Soon conflict would arise, as resources were sought. The national body would have to be sustained, and the identity did not extend beyond the familiar ones. The competitor emerged, the opponent, the other, the enemy. Around a flag identity grew, forged further in merciless battle. Great crimes were committed that tempered the bonds. The nation grew stronger when tested.

It may seem like this was long, long ago, that these elements appeared on this Earth. I ask you though whether, it seems much to you like we have come very far since then? More importantly though I ask with concern where do we go from here? It may be time, that we consciously aim to overcome the loyalties that have so far sustained us. Not to forget, as memory is fine, but to intentionally move forward together. A wider net does need to be cast, a larger skin extended. Let it encompass us all in its embrace, and enable us to imagine a common future. As those primordial cells took that chance of coordinating their efforts then, so let us propose that we do the same while before us this opportunity extends.