Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their 'beliefs.' The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion.
The excerpt discusses the unique aspect of human behavior where people engage in conflict over beliefs rather than just for resources like other animals. This tendency to fight for beliefs plays a significant role as it shapes behaviors, which have been crucial in human evolution. Unlike other species, humans are driven by ideologies, making them distinct in the animal kingdom.
However, the author, Michael Crichton, expresses a pessimistic view of humanity's awareness in these conflicts. He argues that despite our capacity for belief, our actions might ultimately lead to our downfall. Crichton describes humans as stubborn and conformist, suggesting that any positive self-perception about our species is merely self-deception amidst potential self-destruction.
