We Should Embrace our Animal Nature (Science Week from Science Gallery)

Sci Fight: Science/Comedy Debates

Sci fight is a quarterly Science Comedy Debate where scientists and comedians debate serious issues in a ridiculous manner.

Thrilled to celebrate National Science Week 2023 in partnership with the Science Gallery Melbourne!

This rounds’ topic: We should embrace our animal nature.

We are animals. We may have pulled ourselves out of the primordial muck by our bootstraps. We may have invented sophistications such as chess, quantum mechanics and the Nutbush. We may have gained consciousness, closely followed by curiosity, hope, and existential despair. But have we forgotten our roots?

Many of the things that bring us misery today are constructs we invented. Inflation. The 5 day work week. Brexit. You’ve never seen a bonobo stressing over whether their stock portfolio offers an adequate return on investment. Would we be better off if we shrugged off our fictional fetters and returned to a simpler, more primal existence?

There’s a lot to be said for the joys of an animal existence. Being with your pack; with all the meaning and purpose of playing a role in the social group. Using your energy only for that which enables your survival or brings you joy. And not having to fight your very natural animal urges, like sleeping in, eating the last slice of cake or farting during a meeting. Would we be less lonely? You never have to worry if a guinea pig is only being nice to you to get a promotion.

Why are we lying to ourselves about our animal nature? Is it guilt? It’s guilt, isn’t it. Separating ourselves from our fellow animal kith and kin definitely makes it easier to eat them, use them for production, and sleep while the orca uprising begins.

Or are we better off leaving our bestial identities behind? After all, there was a lot of murder. And disease. And falling off or into things. Is our happiness tied to our higher order human society? Have we too easily forgotten the horrors of our base selves, buried now under qualifications and underwear?

Is it even possible to truly leave our animal selves behind?

Join six human animal scientists and debaters wrestle with this existential question of who we are, and how we can be happy.