How humans are hard-wired.

In my mind there is an image of a bell shaped curve. At one end of the curve are Angles, and at the other end, Demons. The title of the graph is, “How Humans Are Hard-Wired.”

Those that we call Angels are hard wired to put the community first. Often to their own suffering and detriment. Demons, on the other hand, are unerringly selfish. Even when they build communities, they are only doing so for their own power and glory. Most of humanity is somewhere in-between. Capable of both, and having to choose one way or another depending on their circumstances.

As our civilization moves forward, we oscillate between freedom and tyranny. It seems to me that what triggers one to fall and the other to rise is when the structure one side builds tries to force the pure ones from the other side into alignment. That is, when a just society built by Angels tries to force Demons into the fold, and vice versa. It is not that the Demons have to try to destroy the system Angels build, the way they are hard-wired does that naturally by reflex, without any thought or effort.

The same is true with the effect Angles have on tyranny. The way Angels engage the world inherently disrupts a selfish system. There is no need to make great plans of action. Which is what can be so confusing for those in the middle. (It is interesting that there are many Demons who try to sell themselves as Angels, but no Angel would ever do the opposite.)

These people cannot be converted or restrained.

The notion that has been circling my mind is how our history is replete with examples of tyrannical systems working to eliminate artists and philosophers as though that is the only form an Angel might take. Even with the assumption that a Demon would never be an artist. When, in fact, most artists and philosophers are just people in the middle.

I suppose that is a limitation of being hard-wired to be so selfish. Just as it is perilous for Angel’s hard-wired nature to be too trusting of everyone. These flaws can only be designed,.. to guarantee evolution.