Self and Group in Early History

As discussed earlier, the vision-based concept of “group” was one of the earliest concepts formed as result of the sense of vision.  “Group” has been part of animal life all the way back to the Cambrian period.  Animals have historically grouped together within-species and continue to do so.  The grouping behavior is caused and mediated by the concept of group that is common to members of a species.

We (Homo sapiens) likewise have a vision-based concept of “group” that causes and enables us to instinctively group with one another.  This has come to us from the vision-based animal world from which we came, and of which we remain a part. However, human grouping behavior has become extremely sophisticated in comparison to animal grouping because of our unique left-brain group thoughts.  In fact, our left brain abilities have enabled us to transcend, and even use for our benefit, all other life forms on this planet.  “Survival”, which is the Darwinian goal of the vision-based right brain, seems a distant concern of our current situation.  The goal of the individual and collective left brain has become “Success”. We first experienced such success in our early campfire groups when we experienced enhanced security, love and compassion, and clothing.  We currently experience success with televisions, electronic entertainment, travel, and…. The definition of “success” has varied across human groups and throughout human history.

As we developed from small bands of hunter gathers to larger agriculture-based communities our group dependence and individual commitment to the community also grew.  Greater individual specialization was required.  Food became more plentiful; and with considerably less community time spent to obtain it.  More time could be spent in making shelters against the elements, putting up fences, making jewelry, making clothes, making pottery, making furniture, etc.  We grew evermore dependent upon one another.  Each individual and their ego became increasingly dependent upon the success of the group because we each became less able to do everything that was needed for our own individual survival.  Success of the group was not only important to the survival of each individual, but to the quality of life of each individual as well, which in turn was also intimately tied to the collective contributions of each member of the group. 

Community growth could not have occurred if individuals were solely motivated by meeting the needs of their ego. As human communities grew in complexity, the relationships and community “rules” that governed meeting “self” vs “group” needs also needed definition.

Imagine our sense of group after we had been reaping the benefits of our collective power in harnessing agriculture.  Our right brain sense of “group” was feeling a big relief…because species survival felt nearly completely assured at that point.  Our right brain sense of “self” likely appreciated the left brain contributions.  The left brain had demonstrated its worth to the species.  The sense of group ultimately comes from the species command level. Its original intent was group survival…and the vision sense of “group” still is governed by survival.  It is truly Darwinistic, and likely always will be.

The smaller agricultural communities grew in numbers and in complexity during the centuries.  Agriculture, one of our first sciences, became more sophisticated as we began to learn more about the needs of plant life.  We discovered which seeds to select, when to plant, how to select the proper soil conditions, how to use hand drawn and then irrigated water – all to obtain optimal growth.  With application of these techniques, the food supply quickly doubled, then doubled, then doubled again – similar to other “technology revolutions” we have had.