1970 Geloof en Wetenschap : Orgaan van de Christelijke vereeniging van natuur- en geneeskundigen in Nederland - pagina 111

A. H. ESSER

83

In the course of our organic evolution, our animal ancestors, occupying parts of the space around them, familiarized themselves with their specific environments. They utilized them to feed, to procreate and bring up their young, and defended these places of land, rocks, trees and water. The images of such incorporated spaces and the activities to be performed on them have been modified through many different species and have bequeathed to each of us a heritage of emotions, feelings, thoughts and spontaneous (often unconscious) actions regarding the possession and defense of home, land, or domain in the abstract sence. These are the territorial images to which Robert Ardrey forcefully drew attention (1). And, equally important, humans share with animals a multitude of spontaneous gut-feelings and basic notions regarding each other's status in a group, a clan, a profession, or any of our social orders. These are the images of dominance hierarchy, or pecking order (as it was originally called in chickens). In the cultural evolution of man, we overcame the environmental conditions of the here-and-now which determine and control almost all of animal life. We abstracted values and replaced physical characteristics with symbols. By continually conceptualizing, we create new images which we can communicate to others (almost at will). Take, for example, the image of territory. We have deliberately created laws to avoid having to be physically present to prevent trespassing on our property. We also create imaginary rights to possessions, e.g., in talking about a salesman's territory, or the area of a professional's competence. However, for these abstract concepts and consensual agreements, the gut-feelings are practically the same as was the case in the defense of actual territories. Just observe the spontaneous reactions of a salesman or professor when someone else, without their knowledge, tries to do their work. In such instances, it is clear that this intrusion is an „invasion of territory" worthy of a territorial defense. Here we see the reason for man's imperfection; he is more than an animal but less than human, to paraphrase Konrad Lorenz. The images from our animal past clash with the images of our psychosocial acculturation. It is evident that the former have performed their function adequately. Our species has survived and multiplied tremendously. It is equally evident that the cultural images have not developed to a point where we can be sure of their preponde-

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen