Regardless of it apparently being driven by their dissatisfaction with the conditions of life, all progress depends on men being dissatisfied with what they are. In fact, the insignificant few who are born exceptions to this, (usually found beyond the mainstream of civilization), people who do seem perfectly satisfied with themselves, are denounced and deemed in need of direction by the dissatisfied, progressive majority.
Men who survive in primitive conditions and who, each day, exert just enough effort to find just enough food to keep them alive that day; with no permanent home, no possessions, no stored food, and who die with nothing more than they were born with, are commonly called by the civilized majority, “bums.” They are said to be “wasting their lives.” They do not try to “better themselves,” nor “make something of their life.” Yet no amount of censure or cajoling can coach such people into getting a steady job, and taking on debt. “Shameful,” says the well coifed choir, “A life wasted.” (But the only pertinence of exceptions, are as comparative highlighters to the main text).
No human would do anything other than see to his own immediate survival, (and that of any family), if he were born destined to find what he is perfectly acceptable. So, you might muse, “Why does not man address the real source of his dissatisfaction, and work on changing what he is?” Interesting that you should bring that up — even more interesting to you should be the fact that you did not bring this up. Men’s minds never bring this up, (and you might then ask): “Well, why do men’s minds never bring this up?” Ah hah! Now it gets really interesting.
Can you ponder the possibility that men’s brains/minds have direct knowledge of what makes the person they are a part of the way they are? Can you perceive the potential of your brain/mind, being an integral component of the genetic blueprint that makes you what you are; having first hand understanding of whether or not hippos can be made to fly, and the shy turned aggressive? Hummmmm? What d’ya think? Think it’s possible?
Outside the world of cartoons, where do you find figures working on their toaster in response to a leaking toilet, explaining that they do not know anything about plumbing? (Don’t look to Looney Tunes.) Such is the situation of real life man unnoticed by the best of routine minds. He is relentlessly driven to constantly change the conditions of life outside of him in response to the inherent dissatisfaction he has with what HE is.
J.