LifeArt2B

I read an article on Sunday from NPR’s Weekend Edition called, “Caring Makes Us Human.”  It spoke about a wounded kitten that wandered into a prison courtyard and received a surprisingly warm reception. Remarkably most of the prison mates took part in helping this ‘little guy’ get well.  They gave him affection, brought food, and tried to bathe him… the guards even participated and protected this little one. Observers believe that the experience brought comfort and collaboration to the group.  The article goes on to say that there is something human in that… to nurture and sustain life.

It sounds poetic to me, but it made me wonder if that is just an example of biological survival.  It felt like such a somber thought.  Hungry for a better answer, I decided to bounce this idea off my dear friend, Seth Malitz.  Research scientist and mathematician, Malitz has a way of quickly exposing a logical order and reason to conceptual ideas – his response here is no exception: 

“There is an animal instinct to nurture and sustain life (particularly the lives of our children, or the children of the group) to keep our genes in the gene pool and perpetuate the species.  But in humans this instinct has evolved, into a conscious feeling and desire, and has broadened in scope – we desire to give nurture and affection to only to children, but to our significant other, our families, friends, pets… and we desire to receive nurture and affection.  I think all this goes beyond what is required for survival of the species, and is perhaps uniquely human.  Humans also tend to think about purpose, ‘what is my purpose here?’, something animals probably don’t contemplate.  The giving and receiving of nurture and affection is one thing (certainly of many) that helps give us humans a sense of purpose.”

Wow… Seth, thanks.