Marie Howe - "Singularity"

Summary

This thought-provoking script reflects on the essence of existence, questioning the separation between human beings and the natural world. It explores a time before human consciousness, when there were no labels, no distinctions between life forms, and no concept of individuality. The speaker longs for a return to a state of unity, where everything was one with the universe. It evokes feelings of nostalgia for a time when there was no loneliness, no pain, and no human-made divisions. The piece challenges the importance humans place on themselves, urging a return to a more primal, interconnected state of being.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script explores a longing for a time when humans were a singularity, a unified existence without need for material things.
• 😀 The reference to not needing beds, food, or money conveys a desire to return to a simpler, more pure state of being.
• 😀 There is a critique of modern human experience, focusing on isolation, mental struggles, and the presence of self-harm (pills).
• 😀 The quote 'For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you' emphasizes interconnectedness and shared existence.
• 😀 The script questions the concept of nature and the division between humans and the rest of the world.
• 😀 It challenges the need for scientific testing to understand the emotional lives of animals, like elephants grieving or coral feeling pain.
• 😀 There's an observation that oceans don't speak any human language, stressing the idea of a world beyond human categorization.
• 😀 The narrator expresses a yearning to return to a state before the division of elements, where everything was unified.
• 😀 The concept of 'before we came to believe humans were so important' criticizes human-centered thinking and the resulting loneliness.
• 😀 The script delves into existential questions about memory, time, and the origin of existence, asking if molecules can recall the past.
• 😀 The closing lines evoke a vision of pure existence, where 'is' is the only essence, reflecting a state of being before human language and constructs.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the script?

The central theme of the script explores the interconnectedness of all things in existence, reflecting on the human condition and our alienation from the natural world. It touches on the idea of returning to a primordial state of being before the distinctions of 'I' and 'we' were formed.

What does the script suggest about the nature of the self?

The script suggests that the concept of the self ('I' and 'we') is a later development, and before this separation, everything was unified. The absence of a defined self implies a more collective, interconnected existence.

How does the script relate to the idea of loneliness?

Loneliness is depicted as a consequence of the human tendency to see ourselves as separate from the rest of existence. The script contrasts this isolation with a time before individual distinctions, where there was no loneliness, only unity.

What is the significance of 'ocean' and 'sky' in the script?

'Ocean' and 'sky' represent a time before clear boundaries were drawn between elements of nature. These terms symbolize a unified existence, where everything was connected and nothing existed in isolation.

What does the script mean by 'there was no Nature'?

The phrase 'there was no Nature' suggests that the concept of 'Nature' as something separate from humans and other entities did not exist. In the primordial state, everything was one, and distinctions between nature and humanity hadn't been formed yet.

Why does the script question the nature of animals' emotions and experiences?

The script questions whether we truly understand or need to define the emotional and sensory experiences of other creatures, like whether elephants grieve or coral reefs feel pain. This points to the idea that such distinctions may be irrelevant in a more interconnected state of existence.

What is the meaning of 'trash oceans don’t speak English or Farsi or French'?

This line reflects the idea that environmental destruction, like polluted oceans, cannot be confined to human languages or cultural distinctions. It underscores the universality of ecological damage, transcending human concepts and borders.

What is the significance of the phrase 'Before we came to believe humans were so important'?

This phrase critiques the human-centric view of the world, suggesting that humans have come to falsely believe they are the most important part of existence, which has led to alienation from the natural world and the loss of a sense of collective unity.

How does the script explore the concept of time?

The script reflects on time as an evolving process, where things once existed in a fluid, undifferentiated state (like 'sky was earth'). The linear progression of time and the formation of concepts like 'I' and 'we' are seen as constructs that disrupt a more primordial state of being.

What is the meaning of 'No verb no noun, only a tiny tiny dot brimming with is is is is is'?

This line conveys a state of pure existence, before language and concepts (like verbs or nouns) were introduced. It suggests a point in time where there was only being, without the need for categorization or definition, representing a return to a simpler, more fundamental state of existence.