Every once in a while, I have a thought that isn’t inspired by a meme I saw online. Today, for instance, I was thinking about the food chain.
Humans evolved in the middle of the food chain. We hunted rabbits and buffalo. And we were hunted by lions and snakes.
Being in the middle tends to be good for perspective. That’s why humans are so good at empathizing with both predators and prey.
There’s something inspiring about a pack of dogs running down a gazelle. The athleticism of running that fast for that long. And the relief when you know they haven’t eaten in days and finally they get to eat. Besides, who doesn’t love dogs?
But we also feel for the gazelle. It gave it such a good go, but it wasn’t enough. It died, terrified and alone.
Of course, we as a species empathize with both sides. But we as individuals each identify more with one or the other. It’s tough to watch a hunt and feel equal respect for both predator and prey, to be equally gratified by either outcome.
But that is what we have to do. It’s sad when the gazelle gets taken down, but it’s also sad when the dog starves to death. It’s a great victory when the gazelle gets away, but it’s also a great victory when the pack gets to eat.
What’s more important, courage or compassion? Loyalty or generosity? Equality or freedom?
If we start answering questions like those, we are actively closing our minds. Virtues come into conflict all the time. That doesn’t mean that either ceases to be a virtue.
Do you know what happens to an ecosystem if the predators and prey decide they don’t need each other and go off to live in their own echo chambers? First, the predators all starve. The prey go out of control and eat everything. And then they all starve.
