Our uncommon humanity
Everyone alive today is sharing this moment with you. Together we look out from our shelter and see the same sky. So much of our experience is universal, but at the same time, each of us is unique. And yet we are all alive together at this moment in our history. It is still not dawn in the era of advanced artificial intelligence, but in the distance the particular light it casts swells. There are other concerns too, even if we don’t always agree what they are or how they should be tackled.
In the face of extraordinary uncertainty a question we might ask ourselves, is ‘what does being human mean?’
Our existence in time
Pinpointing the exact moment when homo sapiens first emerged remains imprecise. Eleanor Scerri, an archaeological scientist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany says, “… we currently have no ancient DNA from Africa that even comes near the timeframes of our evolution—a process that is likely to have largely taken place between 800,000 and 300,000 years1.” It is clear however, that 300,000 years ago there was a revolution in the tools early humans were using. The evidence shows the tools became more sophisticated with flaked points and with attachments for handles and spears.
What drove this change? Our use of fire began as a means of protection and warmth but we soon realised cooked meat improved the digestibility of animal flesh. A more efficient way of absorbing protein and other nutrients fuelled the development of enhanced cognitive machinery in our brain. As social animals, language provided further evolutionary pressure for an increase in brain power.
The early humans gathered around their fires. Fire threw a protective circle around small family bands. Death lurked beyond the trembling light and dangerous darkness swarmed all around them. Soon we began to tell each other stories. This impulse has wired itself deep into our brains because being human is to live with the awareness of our own mortality, to be in a relationship with time.
Beings not doings
We remain essentially the same creatures as our ancestors, albeit some of us with cell phones, TVs, cars and share options. Everything we are evolved to do has its basis in our social evolution. When leaders of organisations emphasise the importance of clear structure and effective processes, they are of course correct. But if an organisation or anything else we try to do together is to work well, then we must come back to the individual and so consider human behaviour.
The word ‘behaviour’ has its roots in ‘to be’ and ‘to bear’ or comport (oneself) in a particular way.2 Behaviour is what it looks like when each of us is being human.
In the face of all of the problems and opportunities in the world today, we are still looking out from our camp fires. We have the urge to tell each other stories about what’s ‘out there’ — social media anyone? More importantly, the solutions if there are any, are to be found within ourselves. These ‘solutions’ will emerge through conversations with our fellow camp-fire dwellers. Through this process of conversation, ideas are tested and improved. Ultimately, the best version of the story will be told and we make progress together.
Néos Delta and Being Human
At Néos Delta, we are committed to finding as many different ways as we can of opening up the space for our best conversations. We want to create the optimal context for us to meet and to have our most purposeful and transformative discussions.
We believe we do our best work when we come together and the most important outcomes will be shaped when we find the time and space to return as fully as we can to being human.
But time and space are precious commodities. We choose locations for our retreats carefully. The venues are are connected either to deep human time, or locations where human ingenuity combines with community to reveal humanity at its best. We design ‘slow time’ into our retreats so those who join us can step away from the busyness of life and consider the important.
Leaving a Néos Delta retreat is to re-enter the world of ordinary clock time but revitalised with new purpose and meaning.
We hope you will join us.
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