Why do we humans, the most intelligent species on Earth, so often behave in ways that are irrational, destructive, and self-defeating? Why do we, despite our capacity for love, compassion, and extraordinary achievements, so frequently fall prey to anger, selfishness, and despair? These are questions that have preoccupied humanity for millennia, and yet genuine answers have remained elusive – until now.
According to Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith, we are finally in a position to understand ourselves. Through his groundbreaking body of work, particularly his acclaimed book FREEDOM: The End of the Human Condition, Griffith provides what many consider the first comprehensive, biological explanation for the psychological anguish that has plagued humanity throughout history – an explanation that offers not only understanding but the possibility of genuine psychological liberation.
Griffith’s work has been warmly endorsed by a wide range of respected scientists and thinkers from across the disciplines. Professor Stuart Hurlbert, a leading ecologist, declared, “I am stunned and honoured to have lived to see the coming of ‘Darwin II’.” Professor Anthony Barnett, a distinguished zoologist, remarked, “In all of written history there are only 2 or 3 people who’ve been able to think on this scale about the human condition.” And Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the world-renowned psychologist behind the concept of ‘flow’, suggested Griffith’s insights “might bring about a paradigm shift in the self-image of humanity.”
The Human Condition: A Scientific Explanation
Griffith’s central argument addresses what he terms the human condition – the paradoxical nature of human behaviour that sees us capable of immense kindness and creativity on one hand, and anger, egocentricity, and destructiveness on the other. Rather than attributing these contradictions to vague notions of ‘human nature’ or innate wickedness, Griffith offers a rigorous biological account rooted in evolutionary principles.
At the heart of this account is the recognition that our behaviour stems from a historic clash between two fundamentally different systems within us:
- Our instincts, which are genetically programmed, inflexible orientations towards behaviour that evolved over millions of years through natural selection.
- Our conscious intellect, based in our nerve-based brain system, which emerged later and operates not through pre-set behaviours but through the capacity to learn, understand, and reason.
Griffith explains that when our intellect first emerged, it naturally began experimenting with behaviour in pursuit of understanding the world. But our instincts, which lacked the capacity for understanding, were intolerant of this deviation. They condemned our intellect’s behaviour as wrong. Without any knowledge of this conflict, our conscious minds experienced this instinctive condemnation as unbearable, leading to the psychological insecurity at the heart of the human condition.
The Genesis of Our Psychological Distress
Griffith clarifies that this conflict set in motion the defensive behaviours we now recognise as central to human suffering. As he explains:
When our conscious mind emerged, its necessary experiments in managing our life from a basis of understanding were condemned by our instinctive orientations to the world because, in undertaking those experiments, our conscious mind was not behaving in accordance with those orientations; and then that condemnation upset our conscious mind, causing it to become defensively angry towards the criticism, determined to prove it undeserved, and committed to blocking it out. We – our conscious thinking mind – became psychologically upset, angry, egocentric and alienated sufferers of the human condition. But what is indescribably wonderful is that through having the redeeming understanding of why this condition emerged, the need for our defensive angry, egocentric and alienated behaviour it produced ends, thus bringing about the psychological rehabilitation of the human race. We are transformed from having to suffer from the agony and horror of the human condition to living free of it in psychologically relieved peace, togetherness and happiness at last!
In short, without understanding the source of this inner conflict, our conscious minds became preoccupied with fending off this perceived criticism. This led to the behaviours that have troubled humanity for so long: anger, defensiveness, egocentricity, and alienation. Importantly, Griffith emphasises that this is not evidence of inherent badness. On the contrary, it reveals a heroic struggle – a necessary and courageous battle to search for understanding in the face of overwhelming confusion.
Beyond Blame: A Path to Psychological Liberation
One of the most profound implications of Griffith’s work is its potential to liberate humanity from the burden of self-condemnation and blame. For millennia, humans have wrestled with feelings of guilt and shame, attributing their actions to supposed flaws in human nature. But Griffith’s explanation shows that this guilt was born of misunderstanding. Our upset behaviours arose not from evil, but from a noble effort to validate ourselves in the face of our instincts’ intolerant condemnation.
With this understanding, Griffith suggests, we are finally able to stop the cycle of defensiveness, to end the need to prove ourselves through egocentricity, and to embrace a new era of honesty, compassion, and reconnection – both with ourselves and with one another.
Through the efforts of the World Transformation Movement (WTM), founded to share this understanding, Jeremy Griffith’s books and resources are made freely available to anyone who wishes to engage with this life-transforming explanation.
Commendations from Across the Scientific and Academic World
Griffith’s work has drawn praise from a wide range of disciplines. In addition to the remarks from Professors Hurlbert, Barnett, and Csikszentmihalyi, many other leading figures have recognised the significance of his explanation:
- Professor Karen Riley, clinical pharmacist: “Living without this understanding is like living back in the stone age – that’s how massive the change it brings is!”
- Professor Patricia Glazebrook, philosopher: “Frankly, I am blown away by the ground-breaking significance of this work.”
- Sir David Attenborough: “I’ve no doubt a fascinating television series could be made based upon this.”
- George Schaller, preeminent biologist: “The insights are fascinating and pertinent and must be disseminated.”
- Professor Scott Churchill, psychologist: “I have recommended Griffith’s work for his razor-sharp biological clarifications.”
- Professor Charles Birch, zoologist: “An original and inspiring understanding of us.”
- Ron Strahan, former director of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo: “I consider the book to be the work of a prophet.”
- Professor Stephen Oppenheimer, geneticist and author of Out of Eden: “Very impressive, particularly liked the primatology section.”
These endorsements reflect not only the ground-breaking nature of Griffith’s work but the growing recognition that his explanation could reframe how we understand ourselves as a species.
Why This Matters Now
We live in a world increasingly defined by psychological distress. Mental health crises, cultural polarisation, rising loneliness, and despair are all symptoms of an underlying existential confusion about who we are and why we behave as we do. In this context, Griffith’s explanation is not just timely – it is vital.
His books, including FREEDOM, Transform Your Life And Save The World, and The Interview That Solves The Human Condition And Saves The World!, do not merely describe the problem. They offer a solution based on biological understanding, one that offers a pathway out of confusion and towards psychological freedom.
By understanding the true nature of the human condition, Griffith argues, we can move beyond the defensive behaviours that have shaped our history and embrace a new era of cooperation, compassion, and constructive living.
A Readable, Hopeful Science for Everyone
Despite the depth of the subject matter, Griffith’s writing is remarkably accessible. His explanations are clear, his logic meticulous, and his compassion for humanity evident on every page. Readers will not find abstract theorising or academic jargon for its own sake. Instead, they will discover a body of work dedicated to bringing relief, clarity, and hope to a confused world.
Griffith’s books have already begun changing lives. Testimonials from individuals across the globe reflect a common theme: a profound sense of relief at finally understanding why we struggle and how we can heal.
For readers of the South Florida Reporter, whether you are a student of science, a seeker of philosophical truth, or simply someone trying to make sense of the world and your place in it, Griffith’s work offers an unprecedented opportunity for genuine understanding.
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