One Is a Lonely Number, but Two Can Be as Bad as One

A cell—a bacterium, for example—contains information within its genetic code that is passed forward by, first, replicating the code and, then, dividing in half through a process called fission. Minus any errors in the process, fission creates from one two essentially identical twins. Through other processes, a bacterium can also share genetic code directly with another bacterium to create a plurality of code and, hopefully, spread a better code—one more advantageous, suitable, and adapted for the challenges of the ever-changing environment.

Both processes are mechanisms for the transmission of knowledge—i.e. the transfer of cellular acquired information for the protection and propagation of the cell's code of life for the benefit and sustenance of the species. These processes are fundamental to evolution, to the creation and survival of the fittest. Note that these processes occur without any conflict or competition but through the power of reproduction, adaptation, and cooperation complemented by the plasticity, plurality, and diversity of the genomes.

Colonies, clusters on many cells, facilitate these processes. The unity of a colony furthers the protection and propagation of the species through its various mechanisms of communication, specialization, group defenses, sharing of resources, and sharing of code, information, and knowledge. The many bacteria of a colony bring a diversity of experiences, physiologic functions, physical characteristics, code, information, and knowledge together, thus facilitating a plurality of options for the protection and the propagation of the species.

The connectivity and sociality of a colony are essential for a species to benefit from the diverse knowledge acquired by each of its individuals. The collective individual knowledge thus becomes the cumulative knowledge of the colony. Within a colony, cumulative knowledge is dynamic and facile. Information can be rapidly disseminated throughout the members of the colony and, when combined, this knowledge can become greater than the sum of its parts. A lack of plurality, diversity, and sociality is death for every species. Humans, too.

In fact, Neanderthals died out not from a lack of physical or intellectual strength but from a lack of diversity within their genome and cumulative knowledge. By contrast, Homo sapiens' survival has been driven by the diversity of the human genome (a mix of viral, bacterial, archaeal, and some Neanderthal genes) as well as by the diversity of physiologic functions, physical characteristics, thoughts, ideas, constructs, and narratives. Over hundreds of thousands of years, this diversity has led to just one surviving human species—us. So, arguably, we should be really good at this diversity and sociality thing. And we are—but only when we are safe.

Both human and bacterial colonies fall apart and individualism appears when under chronic threat. Cumulative knowledge is dissipated. In humans proprietary knowledge, reactivity, rigidity, paranoia, prejudice, isolation, competition, and greed emerge. This is not a genetic, brain, or character defect—it’s just physiology in response to chronic threat. Although not a defect, the process does involve the dissolution of higher human brain functions, including such capacities as empathy, compassion, reason, flexibility, creativity, contemplation, strategization, and keen judgment. Chronic threat makes us dumber at both an individual and communal level. (Is it possible to be dumber than the sum of our parts? Sure, if the parts are offline.)

Therefore, it makes sense to double down on safety and the functions of safety, not on threat and the functions of threat, to maximize our intellectual prowess and the thriving of the human species. Civility inseminates sociality, which implants diversity, which grows cumulative knowledge to finally birth wisdom—the wisdom of the species to not just survive but to thrive.

Biology demonstrates the advantages and the importance of safety and the power of a colony, the many united, in protecting and propagating the code of life.

E Pluribus Unum (From Many Unity)

This shouldn't be misconstrued to mean fusion into "one" but to be recognized as the exponential cumulative strength that arises from plurality, diversity, and sociality when focused towards a common purpose—in the case of the species, a unity bonded by the care and concern for its posterity. The diversity of a unified collective in form, function, and expression is an asset to the fulfillment of the sole purpose of life: to protect and propagate the code .

The history of human civilization instructs that the many becoming the one by following monolithic cults of narcissistic personalities within monopolistic movements results in a dulled monochromatic world, antisocial monocracies, and asocial monarchies. The one is fraught with peril for the many. But just two can be as bad as one" Duocracies breed conflict, competition, polarization, and rigidity, whereas, democracies demand cooperation, adaptation, coalition, and compromise. Duocracies create chronic threat, which leads to the dissolution of the colony and increasing reactivity, rigidity, paranoia, prejudice, isolation, competition, greed, and infidelity. In environments of threat protection of the individual becomes a priority, while purpose is lost.

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There is a tipping point beyond which there is no return. Escalating threat will eventually lead to the death of our species. We have to look to biology, not ideology, to avert this tipping point.

It seems like a good time for promoting plurality, diversity, connectivity, and civility. It seems like a good time for governance by the many— the many thoughts, ideas, constructs, narratives, cultures, people, and parties—not the one nor the two. It seems like a good time for true democracy, an experiment yet to be tried.