A trembling animal

What is something that’s real and would terrify any human?

The fact the universe is absolutely indifferent to our existence. The fact it’s under no obligation to make sense to us.

An image of the Sun, seen from the perspective of Neptune, reveals despair: just another star in the vastness of space.

What’s left for the pale blue dot and its inhabitants?

Vastness and indifference place “a trembling animal at the mercy of the entire cosmos and the problem of the meaning of it”¹. It’s here where a person’s character is the greatest defense against despair.

Cultural norms help coping with the overwhelmingly terrifying, real nature of the world: it’s forever attempting to starve and/or freeze us to death with its indifference.

Religion, ideology, endemic rites. These norms, mostly ingrained subconsciosuly and instinctively within us, help building character. That shield against an individual’s awareness of the terrifying reality.

Let’s embrace sociocultural systems. Even if we feel capable of finding answers, let’s not shrug off their utility.

They provide a cozy home for our angsty, inquisitive brains.