The human brain is incredibly special, and so are you. Regardless of your station in life, religious views, and superficial differences, we can all observe and agree that the precise conditions of our existence and our unique abilities to influence universal laws make each of us undeniably extraordinary. As you come to appreciate the human brain, you'll come to appreciate everyone with it, making for a more humane world.
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Introduction
What do the following things have in common?
Social media, church, sports channels, terrorist groups...
They all help people fulfill their deepest psychological needs to feel certainty, variety, significant, connected.
And if one of our biggest needs is not properly fulfilled, we move towards people and activities to help us fulfill it, sometimes in ways that are hurtful to others.
For hundreds of thousands of years, we have lacked the perspective and confidence to fulfill those needs in ways that are inclusive.
Instead, we have focused on superficial differences in our looks, birthplace, beliefs, and joined groups to make us feel more important, confident, and secure.
We simply didn't have the knowledge and perspective to think any differently.
Until now.
Within the last 165 years, exploration and science have revealed an immutable law -- a law above all laws -- that governs EVERYTHING in the universe.
It is the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which asserts that entropy will stay the same or increase, meaning that matter and energy naturally spread, disperse, dissipate, unless there is energy applied to contain them in an orderly fashion. It's the reason why the universe is always expanding, why hot coffee cools to room temperature, and why buildings eventually crumble.
And with all of our space exploration, we have yet to find anything else in the universe with the ability to harness energy with intelligence except for us. Humans with our advanced brain. We are the only ones. This makes us humans incredibly special. It allows us to know for certain, that we are significant, that we are connected to every other human in this way, and that we have the ability to bring about positive change to improve our own lives and everyone else's.
Human Needs
What drives our decisions and actions?
Why do some of us pursue multiple academic degrees, or follow celebrities on social media platforms, or join a gang?
Well, as it turns out, everything that we do is an attempt to satisfy our deepest psychological needs.
The first human need is certainty that we can avoid pain and gain pleasure or comfort. Some people satisfy this need by trying to control many aspects of their lives, while others gain certainty by relinquishing control and living in faith.
The second human need is uncertainty. It’s what we seek when we have too much certainty; or -- when we feel bored. Another way to say uncertainty is variety. It’s the spice of life -- the experiences that make us feel alive and engaged. It’s why people visit Las Vegas, spend time eviewing their Facebook feed, or make radical life changes.
The third human need is significance; to feel important, unique and special. Some people try to fulfill this need in destructive ways such as destroying or belittling others; while others seek significance in constructive ways, like developing vaccines and cures for common illnesses.
Next is the need for love and connection. We are social beings and strive to connect and form relationships, with other people. It is the primary reason why we get married, go to bars, and why some join gangs.
Solar System
Do you know how amazing our solar system is?
It is simply incredible. Almost unbelievable.
With just a basic understanding of our solar system, one cannot help but acknowledge the miracle of life and how precious every person is.
There are a few simple facts about the solar system to keep in mind, and they are: distance, rotation, and tilt.
Distance. Planet Earth is 93 million miles from the sun. This perfect distance, known as “the Goldilocks Zone,” allows for the formation of liquid water, which is the foundation of human life.
Rotation. The Earth’s core spins at 1,000 miles per hour, which generates an electromagnetic field, protecting us from the sun’s deadly solar winds. Without this electromagnetic field, human life would cease to exist.
Tilt. The moon keeps the Earth at a 23.5 degree tilt on its axis. Without the moon’s presence, Earth would wobble on its axis, possibly leading to the most extreme seasons imaginable, threatening human existence.
So, yes, the unique conditions of our solar system allow us to exist. But that’s not all. Our solar system contains many forms of energy and matter that provide profound clues about the immutable laws that govern our universe... and ourselves.
Entropy
Why is the universe ever expanding? Why does coffee cool at room temperature?
Why do buildings eventually crumble?
This is all due to what physicists call the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which asserts that entropy will stay the same or increase -- meaning that matter and energy will naturally spread, disperse, dissipate, unless there is energy applied to contain it in an orderly fashion.
The 2nd law of thermodynamics is the most important law of physics in explaining the evolution of the universe and the passage of time. Einstein said, “It is the only physical theory of universal content, which I am convinced, that within the framework of applicability of its basic concepts will never be overthrown.”
Take, for example, a sand castle. Over time, it will break apart and become a pile of sand. The only way for that sand castle to keep its shape is for a human to apply energy to it. Otherwise, the sand will naturally go from a lower entropy state, the sand castle, to a higher entropy state, the sand pile.
In fact, humans are the only ones who can change entropy with intelligence. For instance, we can take water and transform it from a low entropy state, ice, to a higher entropy state, water, to an even higher entropy state, steam. And we can take steam, condense it to water, and then freeze it to make ice. There is nothing else in the universe, that we know of, that can alter entropy with intention and perspective in this way. We are the only ones, and that is due to the amazing matter that we have in our heads: the human brain.
Human Brain
What makes humans so special? Our strength? Speed? Beauty?
Certainly, we can all think of other things that beat us in each of those categories.
So, what is it? Are there any attributes that truly make us special? Actually, there is one thing that makes us like no other thing in the universe:
The human brain.
Not just any brain. Many animals have brains. We are talking about the current human brain -- the 200 thousand year model.
This version of the brain has capabilities that not only make us uniquely human but also make us the most extraordinary things in the universe that we know of.
After all, there is nothing else that we’ve observed that has the following endowments:
Self-awareness: Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives and desires.
Imagination: Ability to form new ideas or concepts that are not in our present reality.
Conscience: An inner feeling of right and wrong, and a sense of how much our thoughts and actions fit with them.
Free-will: The ability to choose how to act.
And most importantly, the ability to direct energy and create order with perspective and intelligence.
Imagine how much better and inclusive our world would be if everyone appreciated how amazing the human brain is, valued everyone with it, and harnessed energy with that in mind.