Why is man called a "Social Animal?"

The term given by Aristotle may hold a truth about our society that is slowly fading into oblivion

The other day, when I was watching a video that discussed the efforts of humans to contact extra-terrestrial life in the universe, something struck me during that segment: Humans have an innate condition of seeking association.

At a macro level, human insecurity regarding loneliness extends to our need to search for life outside our solar system; this is the effectiveness of the thought of being alone in the infinite expanse of the universe. Is this true in other aspects?

Since the dawn of time, humans have sought connections with people near and far, whether that is through hunting and gathering in groups, settling in villages and towns, trading across far lands, creating faster modes of transportation and now, wandering in the vast expanse of the internet.

Humans are social creatures, and for us, connecting with people is an innate need of ours. Wherever we go, the first act we do is to connect with the people and the places we are in to make sense of the new lives we embark on, whether that is for a month or a year.

This is also a part of a reason to have a hobby. To gain pleasure and a sense of calm is a part of having a hobby, but to be a part of a community that enjoys the same activity and is as passionate as you are is yet another reason.

Another evidence of people having a sense of community is the division of people based on arbitrary characteristics like nationality, race, colour, ethnicity, sex, caste and regional identity. This is again, at a macro level of the human community.

Even in spaces where we are not supposed to connect on a personal level to one another, this happens. An example is a workplace, or college, where you can understand that your time is temporary there, but you still form bonds with people who are present in that space just because you want a community.

Urban planning also has this concept, which is called a “third place”. This is an area apart from one’s home and workplace, where one can gather and socialise, relax and host an activity. But since the dawn of automobiles, these spaces have become a novelty, but are now making a resurgence.

Today, loneliness has become an epidemic, which has led to a rise in mental health crises. Perhaps…a community can be one solution to it.

I will now end this article by using a quote from Jeff Winger from the popular TV show Community. “For the same reason I can pick this pencil, tell you its name is Steve and go like this (breaks pencil) and part of you dies just a little bit on the inside, because people can connect with anything.”