Whenever we bring our thoughts in the direction of thinking about mankind as a whole, we feel that we are overlooking a very important fact in humanity. It is the fact that every living human being  experiences his being as an individual, as separated from other individuals, as a kind of independent bastion – in an imagination -where a king is sitting on his throne, who thinks that he is the only one that has wisdom.

If you see mankind as a collection of such proud individuals, the existence of harmony seems to be impossible. On the one hand, we can imagine mankind as a whole, as a developing organism, that develops throughout mountains and valleys, to a realization of the living concept that was already there in the beginning.  On the other hand, the human being has an important opposition within himself. He feels like he is in opposition to mankind as a whole, as a collection of milliards of human beings, who all have this feeling of importance, and consciousness of uniqueness.

The following question comes up: What is it that makes man think that he is so unique and important? In the realm of the animals you don’t find this feeling to this extent. In the human race it seems to be an essential characteristic. What is this based on?

Maybe natural science has the answer immediately: It is based on the genes. The unique composition of the genes creates this unique human being. The gene-research comes further and further. I heard that a ‘language-gene’ has been found. If you have it, you are a language-genius. Perhaps the time will come, that a gene for truth will be found, for wisdom, for courage, for thoughtfulness, for justice…

The gene-theory bases al uniqueness on the complex composition of the genes, and the perception of uniqueness would then be the over-all perception of this complex composition. All magnificent human accomplishment would be based on his genes. All genius could be analyzed as a gene-composition. But then actually nobody should be proud of his genius, because he didn’t do anything to get it or to accomplish it. It would be a lucky coincidence. Pure chance. All characteristics of a human being could be lead back to the cell division in the sexual organs and the complete coincidence during conception.

Why would we be so proud then? I will not focus on scientific genetics here, although one could try to reverse this thinking as well. Here I want to confine myself to the question: If the magnificent unique disposition of the individual being is pure nature, why are we so proud of ourselves, as if we did something ourselves to become who we are, to our genius?

I don’t just speak about geniuses like Bach, Rembrandt or Goethe. Every individual has his own genius and is proud of it…

The caduceus of Mercury, (Greek: kerykeion). Herein lay the riddle and the answer…Uniqueness and genius versus harmony and brotherhood by Mieke Mosmuller