The Frantic Quest For Significance

 

I think that it must be maddening to some people to realize that they are tiny creatures living among billions of other tiny creatures on a tiny planet in a tiny solar system among billions of other solar systems in a galaxy among billions of other galaxies in the vastness of the universe which, for all we know, is one of many other universes.

This is unquestionably the case, however.  And because of this, it's difficult to believe that any of us is of any significance in what's called "the grand scheme of things."  In fact, it's absurd for any of us to feel anything but insignificant.

This creates problems for those of us who feel we're important or special in any sense.  From this perspective, self-love and self-regard become laughable.  The self-important become objects of ridicule.  Those who admire others because they think them important would be even more pathetic.

There are different ways a person may react to the realization that we're remarkably small participants in the universe. Some might despair, unable to accept the reality of what Warren Zevon called "the vast indifference of heaven."  Some may disregard it, and believe that they're the chosen of a god who created an enormous cosmos all for the sake of miniature beings on a miniscule planet, the equivalent of a grain of sand in an endless desert.

Some may revere the universe and accept their place in it, something that's plainly beyond their control, and strive to be a Stoic Sage. 

And some might be so angered by the thought of their insignificance, and so convinced of their importance that they use what power they have to demonstrate their greatness and grandeur.  They seek some way to prove it, to themselves more than others. This means they destroy the world and make their mark on it, usually through violence, the accumulation of wealth and building showy, grandiose monuments that others cannot help but see.  

They're the maniacs,  narcissists, gluttons and hoarders that plague us, hoping that somehow they're short lives will be remembered if not extended due to their fame. They see devastation as the path to immortality.

The ancient Assyrian kings are good examples of this kind of mania.  They had their scribes write of their prowess in conquering cities and killing all their inhabitants in gruesome detail, so they wouldn't be forgotten.

Is it possible we're seeing this mad quest for significance playing out now?

Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas. Certain Biblical phrases are apt descriptions of the human condition and are impressive, especially when expressed in Latin.