Chidi Nkwocha: The animal called man (30 days, 30 voices)

by Chidi Nkwocha

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“Some people claim they are ‘born to rule’; but I ask, who then is born to be ruled?”

I remember my Biology textbook saying there are two kinds of “things” in the world; living and non-living things. It further went ahead to sub-divide living things into plants and animals, and even further subdivisions. But, in order to avoid the animality of Man –since we’re mammals-, we choose to call ourselves “higher animals”. I totally agree with this though, because I do not see myself on the same level/class with the goat or the fowl. This is because “…God… said to them, … rule… over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Gen. 1:27&28, NIV – forgive my religious views). People say life evolved from water and that Man is the latest form of this evolution, millions of years after the Big Bang. Perhaps they should explain why he hasn’t  evolved further?

What then makes Man an animal? I write this from an individualistic perspective, and “Man” is used in a generic sense here.

  • Social inclination –Man thrives in the company of others. Someone once said that the man who naturally resigns to himself is often times said to be a beast or a god. From birth, Man learns to depend on people for survival. He needs the circle of people to stay relevant.
  • Political inclination – As he grows and thrives on his interdependence on others, he desires to control, organize and dominate them. As such, he seeks to rule, be respected and feared. Some people claim they are “born to rule”; but I ask, who then is “born to be ruled”?
  • Rational inclination – As he goes around his environment, he observes lot of things which lead him to wonder, ponder and go yonder to conquer.
  • Religious inclination – He believes there is a Supreme Being who is responsible for his existence and therefore he seeks to worship and approach using various means and depends on Him for his needs.
  • Selfish inclination – He is not more interested in others than he is in himself; he is naturally egocentric, proud and ambitious.
  • Creative inclination – Oh how I adore the creative powers of the human mind! Which other being ever thought of building a “tower of Babel”? Or of flying without wings and swimming without fins? Or of the internet? Which being, if not the powerful, creative animal called Man?

I still hold to the view that man was not originally created as, or to be, an animal, however, let us see what others have said.

Olusegun Obasanjo (1998), in his book “This Animal Called Man” suggests that “the universe is of unfathomably great immensity, seemingly great in confusion, held together and controlled by a God of infinite power, intellect and majesty”. Obasanjo asserts that the purpose of Man on earth is “to live to the glory of God”. Unfortunately, Man has turned out to be a disappointment to his Maker.

According to Pico de la Mirandol, a philosopher of the Renaissance, “when man philosophizes, he ascends the chain of being towards the angels, and communion with God; and when he fails to exercise his intellect, he vegetates”. This therefore implies that Man tends to lose his dignity when he fails to exercise his intellect, which is one faculty of the soul. He therefore is tagged an animal, a fool; stupid, uncultured, mad, worthless!

But I ask; is his failure to exercise his intellectual powers enough to make Man lose or deny him his dignity? Are “illiterates” including their children, not also worthy of same dignity as those who are “better off” have? Please note that I am not excusing poverty or laziness. Though we need skill to handle each of them differently, let us rethink our attitude towards the different humans we meet daily, in different places and of different faces. For I am convinced that the people whom we think matter now, may not matter in the future and vice versa; so be good to someone today.

Finally, regardless of the attribution to man, be he an animal or not, he ought to succeed in his existence.

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Chidi Nkwocha is a young, creative Nigerian student with a passion for positive change and truth. He studies civil engineering in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He likes writing and meeting creative minds. He is very open-minded.

30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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