Why are humans so anxious? (Sapiens, Chapter 1: An Animal of No Significance)

Рет қаралды 2,975

4 жыл бұрын

Buy Sapiens on Amazon: amzn.to/38SIPIV
This vlog contains my reflections on the first chapter of Sapiens, titled, "An Animal of No Significance."
One of the greatest paradoxes of human existence is that although we have reached the top of the food chain as a species, we still experience massive levels of anxiety. I've recently started reading Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, which provides a compelling answer to this seeming paradox. In the grand scheme of things, a species that has known dominance for less than 100,000 years hasn't really had that much time to adjust in a universe that is 13.5 billion years old. The lion, for example, has had millions of years to get used to its dominance. Humans, on the other hand, have not-so-distant memories of having to fear lions and other predators. Why do we experience anxiety? It's built into our DNA - the DNA of a species that still remembers what it's like to live in a dangerous world.

Пікірлер: 41

@LoganSewell83 4 жыл бұрын

This was perfect timing. I have recently decided to quit drinking and the staff at the local addiction center seem more worried about my anxiety and depression.

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

Congratulations mate, how are you doing now?

@LoganSewell83 3 жыл бұрын

@@bag2963 Life us still a struggle but I am doing much better.

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

@@LoganSewell83 Nice to hear that! don't lose hope mate, it's a great source of power. I don't know wether you are believer or not, but you can always find something that you enjoy and love :) and there is always a balance so every obstacle can be overcome. I had hard times as well, but I tried to recognize the problem and then solve it by doing the opposite, I mean if I were lazy making myself work harder. Stay healthy.

@michaelpisciarino5348 4 жыл бұрын

1:08 Humans don't have to fear being eaten anymore. So why are we still anxious? 2:33 *Chapter 1: An Animal of No Significance* 3:17 *Epimethius and Prometheus: Gift Givers* The Bear is given size and claw and teeth The Bird given wings The Cheetah given speed Man given Fire (Technology) The Lion has been The King for centuries 6:37 Our DNA still has not adjusted 8:32 How can I be excellent without being anxious? - Remember, you are somebody 9:59 Leave a comment with what you are thinking/feeling

@thegodofyoutube266 4 жыл бұрын

The fear of survival is still there the same as being eaten because 75% of Americans still live paycheck to paycheck

@thegodofyoutube266 4 жыл бұрын

The anxiety of making rent still trigger the same anxiet we once had of our village being attacked

@MorusAlba1975 4 жыл бұрын

@@thegodofyoutube266 Not to mention the threat of burglars, robbers, rapists, terrorists and other "predators" amongst us.

@ridercanada1 4 жыл бұрын

@@MorusAlba1975 And it's all proegated by the media. Watching the news will give you anxiety. STOP watching the news. It rarely has meaning for you.

@MorusAlba1975 4 жыл бұрын

@@ridercanada1 There's some truth in that, but here in the Netherlands, even without watching the news (directly or through social media and friends), by the time you're about 25, you'll have had several unpleasant encounters with the predators I mentioned. I had my share before I was 20. And it's GOOD to be cautious of pickpocketers, bike thieves and so on. It's even expected of you when you work in a shop: you get a training about how to deal with shoplifting and potential robberies. So yeah, international news does add to the anxiety, but even without such media, mass immigration has turned the West into a jungle. There are hyenas everywhere.

@spotmebro3589 4 жыл бұрын

Nicely done sire. 👍

@patriciagodfrey6345 3 жыл бұрын

An awesome book, and you sir are awesome as well.

@linosanchez9581 4 жыл бұрын

Would love to see more

@JustTwoGuysIreland 4 жыл бұрын

Very interesting

@TheManInRoomFive 4 жыл бұрын

We are anxious because we, perhaps alone, are aware of our own eventual demise.

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

Oh you mean unconsciously right? Interesting point, but what do you mean exactly? Anxiety comes from the fact you can’t fight eventual demise and you just have to accept it, worrying about your descendants and what will be left for you, in how long will you be forgotten or just simply human’s nature that you can’t explain death. I think it has very interesting crossovers with religion. But your can your theory be only one reason for our anxiety?(sorry for the several questions at a time)

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

And I meant there are other reasons too, like what am I even living for when am I going to die etc. Or is it even possible to overcome it fully? Because almost all of us has seen like least anxious people.

@Adrian-yf1zg 3 жыл бұрын

You have oversimplified this.... If you want to read about anxiety and why humans always have this.... Read the medieval Andalusian scholar Ibn Hazm.... He brings great perspective on this

@mohammedmahadi721 2 жыл бұрын

any book

@owhebitme.5343 4 жыл бұрын

Mabye its society telling people to pretty much BE anxious for everything

@jaydentownsend5402 4 жыл бұрын

Edvard Munch "The scream" . But sapiens is high up on my non-fic list

@jackhalt1410 4 жыл бұрын

It's funny that you mention this author, Richey. I really like Yuval Noah, its a great author, he is just brilliant. Nevertheless, in his most recent book he explains why should we not fear a global pandemic thanks to our advances in science and society in general. Now, I dont need to explain WHY that had such a bad timing

@skyfool981 4 жыл бұрын

I read this book last year and it is amazing. I recommend it to anyone. Chapter one made me go .....holy shit, that makes all the sense in the world!!!!!

@carpo719 4 жыл бұрын

Off subject, but you look so much like Bret Weinstein, and sound like him too. It's very strange. Anyhow, great video thank you.

@thegodofyoutube266 4 жыл бұрын

This is such a small part of anxiety today..... not having enough money triggers our animal anxiety more than anything theres still a food chain today and its the food chain among humans WE ARE NOT AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are

@Macheako 4 жыл бұрын

Oh yea, the ever looming threat that one day your job might just decide they don't need you anymore, and when ya consider the continual inflation costs, savings can't ever be a fool proof plan to fall back on, not to mention the very inherent risk that comes with modern investments due to non-stop growth in computation and calculation....and then there's always the chance your significant other leaves you and causes complete chaos in your rather comfortable life.... Oh yea, that's just a breeding ground for anxiety 🤣👌🏻

@tokyodoru 4 жыл бұрын

Love from London, I mainly watch because youre really hot and look like Matt Damon lol

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

Lol he’s also a very interesting person, and yeah just mentioned the similarity lol

@MorusAlba1975 4 жыл бұрын

Our anxiety is still justified, but now we have to worry about criminals, corrupt cops, sociopaths, terrorists, rapists, enemy soldiers, dangerous machines etc. Being at the top of the food chain does not mean there are no threats anymore. Even lions will start fighting each other when there are too many of them in a certain area.

@ridercanada1 4 жыл бұрын

What are the chances of you or I ever having to deal with any of these?? Very low. Don't watch the news.

@MorusAlba1975 4 жыл бұрын

"What are the chances of you or I ever having to deal with any of these??" @@ridercanada1, do you live in a gated community or some upper middle class area like that? The vast majority of ordinary people will encounter many of these predators throughout their lives. Not every type (terrorists are rare) but certainly several of them.

@ridercanada1 4 жыл бұрын

Canada....Sorry.

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

@@ridercanada1 lol

@bag2963 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah that’s sad even though I don’t face all of the threats either. But it does give you anxiety if you care about cosmopolitical well-being.

@thegodofyoutube266 4 жыл бұрын

This is shameful in how much is being left out

@tomrichey 4 жыл бұрын

There was no intention for this to be a summary of the entire chapter. It’s my own reflection after reading the chapter and the main thing I got out of it. There’s nothing shameful about it. If someone wants to know everything that’s in the chapter, they can read the 15 pages, themselves.

@thegodofyoutube266 4 жыл бұрын

Tom Richey The chapter itself does not encompass the full reality

@abcd-gn3nf 4 жыл бұрын

No spoilers yuh