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Commands
Their origins, evolution, and significance
They say, “An eye for an eye, we both lose our sight”
And, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”
But when you been wronged and you know all along that it’s just one life
At what point does one fight? (Good question, right?)— JAŸ-Z
Since we were kids, we have been following commands. Sit. Come over. Be silent. These are not new to us. As soon as we become adults and start our own families, we pass these orders down.
Where did this chain of command (there goes the word again) come from? Elias Canetti gives a compelling answer. Commands begin from the natural instinct to flee in the face of danger.
The more I tried to challenge this idea, the more compelling it became. Like, how is it that kids and pets obey commands? They don’t flee. Canetti explains why. His original answer remains consistent, and the more I stretched it into other spheres of life, the stronger I began to believe in it. Maybe you can offer evidence to the contrary.
I will share my cognitive musings, and you will make your assessment. What I can promise is that it will be extremely compelling. Canetti continues to give me…
