Path to Survival

TimeWatch Editorial
July 04, 2016

Noam Chomsky’s biography says that he was a brilliant child. His curiosities and intellect were influenced by his early experiences. He was born in Philadelphia on December 7, 1928 and of course entering the world at the time of America's Great Depression. His biography continues to describe him as being raised with a younger brother, David, and although his own family was middle class, he was a witness to injustices all around him. One of his earliest memories consisted of watching security officers beat women strikers outside of a textile plant. Since 1955, he has been a professor at MIT and is the author of over 100 books on topics such as linguistics, war, politics, and mass media.

One of those books was “Hegemony or survival: America's quest for global dominance,” published in 2003. Of course the theme of the book is revealed in its topic, yet the one element that immediately grabs the attention in the opening chapter is the reference to Ernst Mayr, who published some reflections on the likelihood of success in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

“Mayr estimated the number of species since the origin of life at about fifty billion, only one of which "achieved the kind of intelligence needed to establish a civilization." It did so very recently, perhaps 100,000 years ago. It is generally assumed that only one small breeding group survived, of which we are all descendants.” Noam Chomsky, “Hegemony or survival: America's quest for global dominance,” page 4.

It is clear that Naom Chomsky believes in evolution. However, my interest in his book is not based upon his theology. It is what he says in the very next paragraph that is really revealing.

“Ernst Mayr speculated on the human form of intellectual organization. The history of life on Earth, he wrote, refutes the claim that "it is better to be smart than to be stupid," at least judging by biological success: beetles and bacteria, for example, are vastly more successful than humans in terms of survival." Noam Chomsky, “Hegemony or survival: America's quest for global dominance,” page 4.

In other words, Chomsky is saying that Ernst Mayr believes it better to be stupid than smart. Chomsky seems to join Mayr in that belief when he says:

“We are entering a period of human history that may provide an answer to the question of whether it is better to be smart than stupid. The most hopeful prospect is that the question will not be answered: if it receives a definite answer, that answer can only be that humans were a kind of "biological error," using their allotted 100,000 years to destroy themselves and, in the process, much else.” Noam Chomsky, “Hegemony or survival: America's quest for global dominance,” page 4.

Chomsky’s observations are based upon the continual demonstration of stupidity present around us today. The lack of thoughtful consideration of the past is obviously revealed in our decision making. It is almost as if intelligence is shunned. Attitudes that were once found in the schools, when a student was mocked because of their concern for their studies, heckled because they were seen to be a “nerd” and bullied because they spent their time in serious intellectual engagement, seem now to be the norm in society at large. Occurrences that are the obvious result of actions or decisions previously taken are seen as the normal and unavoidable. The constant repeating of history passes by without notice by those who are constantly distracted by the pointlessness of their existence.

This attitude has bled into the church. The distraction of sameness, the need to be entertained has replaced the need to grow. The externals are obsessively pursued to the neglect, or perhaps the abandonment of the development of character. But in spite of the fact that Chomsky and Mayr seem convinced that it might be better to be stupid than smart, based upon their empirical analysis, it is by far better to be wise than stupid. True wisdom must include a knowledge of the past. It includes an understanding of the concept of consequence. It includes a determination to be better. It demands the willingness to carefully examine each decision. This wisdom as described will be a challenge and remain unattained, unless the Third Person of the Godhead is allowed to fashion the necessary elements within. Then true wisdom will spring forth like a fountain.

Cameron A. Bowen