You Humans!

This philosophical and speculative essay is presented as a farewell letter from an extraterrestrial observer concluding a 100,000-year scouting mission on Earth. Through the eyes of this "outsider," the article examines human biological and cultural evolution, highlighting the "cramped and fragile" nature of the human body and the long cycles of ignorance and toil that define human life. The author challenges humanity's self-perceptions as rational or moral beings, proposing instead that humans are essentially "storytelling creatures" who often prioritize their narratives over survival. A central theme is a "historical mistake" made by the observer in ancient Mesopotamia (Eridu), which led to the formation of a social contract between "raiders" and the people—a pact that eventually evolved into modern forms of governance and political interference. The essay concludes with a somber assessment of humanity’s 18% chance of long-term survival and a plea for kindness in the face of cosmic solitude.