Self-determination of people.

A funny curiosity was described in his interesting book “People or Animals” by the French writer Vercors. The pseudonym of Jean Marcel Bruller. (Vercors – Jean Marcel Bruller)

He pointed out such a strange fact: There is no definition of the concept of “man” in any encyclopedia.

Somehow I decided to ask myself, is Vercors right? Still, you must admit, it’s amazing. They define anything, but the most important thing, it seems, is not there! To his chagrin and surprise, he discovered that Vercors was wrong. THERE are definitions. But they are extremely verbose, miserable and don’t really say anything. Smearing a spoonful of desalted porridge on a plate.

Formally, it turns out that Vercors is wrong – there are definitions. But in fact, there is no sensible definition!

So, let’s say that the famous SETI (Search of Extra – Terrestrial Intelligence) program exploded into a sensation one beautiful day:

We HAVE DISCOVERED “brothers (or maybe sisters, or maybe cousins, or maybe predecessors) IN MIND! In some Tau of Whale (according to Vysotsky), the Heart of a Snake (Cor Serpentis, according to Efremov), and it doesn’t matter where!

And these brothers asked us the first question: «How do you “HUMAN PEOPLE” define yourself? For we do not know you and NO ONE in the universe knows you. Therefore, we would like to learn FROM YOU YOURSELF: Give us your SELF-DETERMINATION!»

Clever fools got into the SETI, began to go through encyclopedias and reference books (They themselves, unlike Vercors, NEVER asked themselves such a question. They were NOT looking for THEMSELVES, but for brothers in something that was also devoid of a clear definition, “reason”, so to speak. Well, we sent a few articles to them, aliens, othrs “starians” or others galactians. And those (of course, on the channel of the fifth or sixth or some other dimension, otherwise they would have to wait for a century or even a millionth anniversary) and say: «You bros, give us not a smeared verbosity that doesn’t really tell us anything, but a short and clear self-portrait of yourself! A couple of phrases and that’s it! If you can do this, then we will include you among the “intelligent” objects of the universe. And if you can’t, then I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong address. You don’t have brothers in mind, but you need to look for animals without reason! For you are still at this stage and, judging by your inability to even define yourself, you will have it for a long time!»

Our “Messengers, the lookouts of humanity,” began to rummage through the books again, maybe there was still someone who gave himself a definition? We found one ancient cretin, Protagoras:

Man is the measure of everything!

They sent it hastily.

And those bros tell us: «So far, this is another proof of your complete lack of reason. Do you like to quote cretins from schools for the mentally retarded? How can some plump bipedal subject be the MEASURE of EVERYTHING? (Your, these encyclopedia have informed us of your physical dimension and composition) This is complete idiocy! Finally, give a normal, concise, clear and precise definition to yourself!»

Then some smart guy, who got into this mighty cohort of morons, remembered:

Duke Francois de la Rochefoucauld. He said something very similar to the truth:

“We are afraid of everything, as mortals should be. And we want everything, as if we are endowed with immortality.”

They sent it.

«Brothers” immediately replied: «Yes, the idea is interesting, DEFINING.

Perhaps there is some glimmer of reason in SOME INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOU.

Give us the thought of another such, indeed, intelligent being.»

And another, who also happened to get in the way, a smart guy remembered another SMART GUY from humans:

Eric Hoffer!

His aphorism was also sent.

The bros appreciated: «Yes, this is a really clear and concise definition of creatures that claim to be intelligent without the slightest reason!»

And the connection with them was interrupted due to their total disconnection.

A pack of highly educated morons attacked the last smart guy: What did you find out from Eric Hoffer???

He replied, completely at a loss:

“People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.”
―Eric Hoffer

19 XII 2015