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The Logic of Absurdity: Science, Language, Money, and Tech
Exploring Rationality as Humanity's Tool for Survival in a World of Entropy
Komalika Neyol
December 04, 2023
Man is a rational animal, not because it is inherent to him, but to rationalize the absurdity that growing entropy brings with itself.
Rationality is, therefore, not human nature but a tool to survive chaos.
The Miracles of Medical Science:
Ancient civilizations viewed the human body as a singular, holistic entity. The concept of treating individual body parts would have seemed outlandishly absurd. Yet, as our understanding deepened, a response to the growing complexity of health and disease, specialization became not just rational but essential. Today, the healthcare system stands on the shoulders of the medical specialty.
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp," painted in 1632 by Rembrandt, is an oil on canvas that depicts Dr. Nicolaes Tulp demonstrating the musculature of the arm to a group of doctors. Notably, several of the spectators are actual doctors who paid to be included in this work. Set against the backdrop of the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age, the painting also features the corpse of Aris Kindt, a criminal sentenced to death, lending a stark realism to the scene. Rembrandt's depiction of the muscles and tendons has been praised for its anatomical accuracy, showcasing his exceptional talent and attention to detail.
The Logic of Language:
The idea that once, certain sounds were randomly assigned to objects and concepts sounds crazy. History suggests that imagination existed even before the linguistic revolution in humans. Imagine the first person attempting to convince others that a particular sound meant 'tree' or 'sky'. It is the epitome of absurdity turned rational. But fast forward to the present, language is a cornerstone of human civilization.
On June 20, 1840, Samuel F. B. Morse was granted U.S. Patent No. 1,647A for "Improvement in the Mode of Communicating Information by Signals by the Application of Electromagnetism." At the time, the idea of transmitting messages over long distances almost instantly seemed almost absurd to many.
The Marvels of Money:
Money is the most absurd embodiment of absurdity being rationalized. Ask yourself, would you still value money if you weren’t born in the society?
Who would have thought that a piece of metal or printed paper could represent value? More than that, who would’ve thought that people would kill and die for this inherently worthless abstraction of real-world operations?
Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, have pushed this abstraction further, turning digital bytes into tangible wealth in the name of trust.
In medieval Russia, it was common to use squirrel pelts as currency. Surprisingly, parts of animals such as their snouts, claws, and ears were also considered legitimate forms of change. Hope this makes you feel better about the present-age money!
The Saga of the Socials:
Social media reflects the chaotic yet creative nature of the human mind.
Traditionally, interpersonal dialogues revolved around coherent, often linear conversations. Imagine you just received horrible news and the next moment, someone tells you a joke about rats in New York. Wouldn’t that make you angry? More than that, you would probably label this person as abnormal or insensitive.
But that’s exactly what a Twitter feed looks like - a mosaic of thoughts, each competing for attention, mirroring the chaos and creativity of a neurodiverse mind. It’s as if the neurotypical thought process has been externalized onto screens, reflecting both the genius and absurdity of the human mind. Today, you are rewarded for scoring higher in this game of social influence.
'Relativity,' by M.C. Escher was first printed in December 1953. It is a renowned artwork featuring impossible architecture and numerous perspectives. It depicts a world in which the normal laws of gravity do not apply.
The Paradise of Patterns:
If you observe, these examples follow a pattern: individuals, often seen as anomalies, propose ideas that defy conventional logic. They rationalize their perspectives, gradually attracting others to form communities around these once-absurd concepts.
Thus, Man is rational, so he can rationalize absurdity and his own ideas.
And while man is a rational being, it is not by nature. We are rational because we have learned to make sense of and thrive, in an increasingly complex world.
And if history is any guide, the next wave of genius might well emerge from what today seems absurd.
It's a reminder that in a world where certainty is seductive yet elusive, embracing the absurd may just be our rational response.
I know I sound absurd saying that the recipe to success is absurdity but that’s the whole point.
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