From Human to Beast: The Descent Fueled by Greed and Power

In the pursuit of power, wealth, and dominance, humanity often teeters on the edge of losing its essence, transforming into something primal, something animalistic. While humans are distinguished by their ability to reason, empathize, and build societies based on cooperation, history is filled with moments where these traits are eclipsed by greed, violence, and the ruthless hunger for control. What happens when humans, endowed with the capacity for empathy, become consumed by their darker instincts?

At the core of this transformation is the relentless drive for material gain and power. Money has become a defining force, often dictating the course of people’s lives. In its pursuit, morals are compromised, relationships are sacrificed, and the humanity within begins to erode. When a person kills another for financial gain, they not only take a life—they diminish their own humanity. The act may be cold and calculated, driven by desperation or ambition, but the result is the same: the severing of the empathetic bond that ties us to one another.

Power, too, is a seductive force. It can elevate a person to heights they never imagined, but it often comes with a cost. History's most ruthless leaders, from despots to warlords, have demonstrated that when the thirst for power becomes insatiable, compassion is left behind. Power becomes the end goal, and anything or anyone that stands in the way is reduced to an obstacle to be eliminated. Human life, once seen as sacred, becomes expendable.

Yet, despite these tragic patterns, every person is aware of their mortality. Everyone dies. The reality of death is universal, yet for many, this truth is overshadowed by the endless chase for more—more money, more control, more influence. In the end, though, no amount of wealth or power can escape death’s inevitability. What remains after we are gone is not the wealth we've accumulated, but the actions we've taken. Were those actions rooted in empathy, or in cold ambition?

In this descent, there lies an unsettling paradox: while humans have the innate capacity for empathy, this very trait is often overridden by selfish desires. The hand that could offer comfort or extend compassion becomes the hand that wields violence. When empathy dies, the human spirit becomes animalistic, driven by instinct rather than reason.

The world is full of examples where empathy could have turned the tide—where conflict could have been avoided, where lives could have been saved, where understanding could have prevailed. Instead, the chase for wealth or power often blinds individuals to the suffering they cause. And in that blindness, they lose their humanity.

At the end of the day, the struggle between human and animal within us is ongoing. We have the choice to act out of empathy, to build bridges, to understand one another. Or we can succumb to baser instincts, driven by selfish desires. But when the pursuit of power and money takes precedence over empathy, the line between human and animal blurs, leaving behind a trail of destruction and lost humanity.