Have you ever wondered why we have an interest in the life and times of others who have lived in our past? Just what is there about the past that interests us? Why are so many of us interested in the lives and adventures of others who lived in a time and place so different from that which surrounds us today?
If you answered “no” to the first question and scratched your head, shrugged your shoulders or mumbled something like, “I don’t know” in response to the last two, you will be comforted to know that you are not alone. Yet on any given day, you can bet that historians and non-historians alike can be found digging in dirt, perusing through books, stalking about museums and even poking around antique stores, all attempting to learn more about, and if possible, even “brush up against” others who have lived in our past. And most do so without giving why a second thought.
To help prove my point, try the following and see what happens. The next time you see someone reading a book on a subject of history, reading work of historical fiction, standing at a museum in front of a diorama depicting a family of Neanderthals, or see someone scouring the ground looking for arrowheads, ask: Why are you (fill in the blank with a simple statement that describes whatever it is he or she is doing at that moment)? See if they don’t answer: “I don’t know” or “Because I like to,” or some other similar, highfalutin sounding; generally non-informative response.
For most of us, their response will confirm that history simply pleases them. End of story, time to move on and pick up the next rock… However, if you will permit, I would like to take our consideration of this interest in our past a bit further. You see, I have a theory that explains why many of us share a common interest in history. Actually, I have two theories which, when taken together, offer a deeper, even mysterious explanation for this interest. The reason most of us have a difficult time answering this seemingly simple question is that the answer is so basic and so fundamental that it eludes us. It is just too obvious. The simple truth is that our interest in our past is imbedded within our DNA! I suspect that, like me, most of you are not Molecular Biologists or Geneticists, which explains why you probably didn’t come up with this answer on your own.
Nevertheless, after spending a considerable amount of time wondering about my own interest in history, I’ve concluded that the only possible explanation for this insatiable interest is the existence of a history gene embedded somewhere deep in the recesses of my DNA. Assuming we are of the same species, if I have it in my DNA, you have it in yours as well. And, if you accept this theory, it will not only provide a reasonable explanation of our common interest, but, as I will explain in a moment, it will also make you feel better. That is, unless you just happen to be a Molecular Biologist or Geneticist and, for some inexplicable reason have not come across this history gene theory in you research. If you are one, get to work and prove, or disprove if you can, what I will call: Theory of the History Gene. If you are a college student who just happens to be majoring in Molecular Biology or Genetics, a dissertation topic has just dropped into your lap; and you are welcome to it.
Like I said a moment ago, if you are not a Biologist or Geneticist I’m betting that, now that you know the answer to the question, you feel better than you did when you initially reached the end of the first paragraph. How can I possibly know? Sherlock would’ve said, “Elementary my dear Watson.”
You see, our human brains do not like stress. And not being able to answer what appears to be a reasonably straight forward question results in stress. It is the way our brains are wired; we can’t help it! However, now that you are armed with an understanding of why you are interested in history, you have the answer. Consequently, you now feel less stress and you should therefore be feeling better now.
Nonetheless, I expect that there are some Doubting Thomases who are thinking: “Not everyone has the same interest in history; therefore, this hairball theory must be wrong!”
To that, I say, “Ye of little faith.” And, as you might expect by now, I have a straightforward explanation for this observation as well.
Do you remember sitting in a biology class somewhere and a teacher saying something about “dominant” and “recessive” traits? To my way of thinking, it only seems reasonable to conclude that those of us who are more interested in history than others simply possess a dominant history gene.
Now, if you’ve stayed with this train of thought so far, let me offer one additional hypothesis that may push some of you right over the edge and scare the crap out of others. However, I know that it will resonate with at least a select few of you. So here it goes:
We are interested in history and the lives of those who have gone before, because…by connecting with our past, we are in some mysterious and wonderful way, at the same time also connecting with those who will live in the future...
I know, some of you just raised your eyebrows and are now wondering, “Where is this thread going?” Well, if you are willing to journey with this train of thought just a wee bit further down the path, it will take you to an understanding of the affects of our mortality upon our interest in history. Yep, believe it or not, our interest in history is based, at least in part, on the fact that we are mortal!
Regardless of religious belief, and regardless of acceptance or rejection of my dominant history gene theory, you are going to have to grant me this one – none of us are going to live forever. And that is the reason we have an interest in history. Those of us with this dominant history gene live in the present, look to the past and think about the future – all in the same instant of time. It is this mystical, simultaneous connection of our present, our past and our future that results in a release of endorphins in our brain. As some of you may know, endorphins make us feel good. And it is these endorphins that keep the flame of interest in our history burning brightly.
So, the next time someone asks, “Why do you like history?” Just smile knowingly and say, “Glad you asked. Pull up a chair and let me tell you about endorphins...”
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