适者生存，而非强者。 为什么成为一个平庸者更适应如今的社会。社会来自分工。没有分工就没有必要组成一个社会。没有比较精细的分工就不会有比较高级的文明。这是所有文明共通的，按理说，如此发展，只会使有卓越才能的人不至于被埋没。例如如果这世界上没有市场交换，莫扎特只能在篝火边唱唱歌跳跳舞。但是，不幸得很，人们组成社会除了为了在市场上交换，还常常是为了抵御外敌与灾害。短期就算了，长期的战争准备会要求统一思想，这就是为什么颠沛流离的犹太人会从多神教走向一神教。一神教有逻辑漏洞，不能解释黑暗的客观存在，只能搞出个天使与魔鬼的最终一战来解决，于是世俗没有教堂里的辉煌重要。卡尔文宗是个异数。他们不仅入世，还把圣战引入了商业乃至工业。法国只能革命，提出所谓的普世价值，跟上潮流，摩登文明这个天使与魔鬼的结合体如同病毒从西欧传遍全球。类军事化追求不断胜利无限扩张成了几乎所有社会的特征，如此必然过度最求标准化，以实现高效率，包括要求人人都是一块可以随时替换的平平无奇的城墙砖头。
In the 21st century, why are most people obsessed with being mediocre, average, and normal rather than aiming to become extremely wealthy, a great self-taught polymath, a freakish athlete, and a great philosopher for life? Why Are People Obsessed with Being Mediocre in the 21st Century?
Introduction
In a world brimming with opportunities for exceptional achievements, why do most people seemingly settle for mediocrity, embracing the safety of being average and normal? The question strikes at the heart of modern civilization and human behavior in the 21st century. The answer lies in understanding that mediocrity is not a flaw but an adaptation—a strategy suited to the dynamics of contemporary society, which is shaped by division of labor, market exchange, and a long history of militarized efficiency.
The Roots of Civilization: Division of Labor and Specialization
Civilization as we know it exists because of division of labor. In primitive societies, individuals might have needed to possess a wide range of skills to survive, but as human communities grew and specialized tasks emerged, societies began to reward interdependence. Advanced civilizations, from the ancient Mesopotamians to modern global economies, thrive on the principle that not everyone needs to excel at everything.
This specialization ensures that talent in one area, like Mozart’s genius in music, finds its place through market exchange. Without such systems, extraordinary capabilities might remain unnoticed or underutilized, relegated to mere tribal performances.
However, this same system also introduces constraints: the structure of society inherently favors predictability and reliability over extraordinary individualism. For societies to function smoothly, they need most individuals to fill roles that support the larger system, not disrupt it.
The Legacy of Conflict: Standardization and Survival
While division of labor underpins peaceful coexistence and market exchange, history shows that societies also organize for collective defense and survival. War and disaster preparedness require unity and conformity, often at the expense of individuality. Over time, this necessity has shaped human behavior and cultural systems in profound ways.
From Diversity to Uniformity
In times of crisis, a unified ideology strengthens group cohesion. This is why historically, societies facing existential threats gravitate toward systems like monotheism, which demands singular allegiance and simplifies moral frameworks. The spread of one-god religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam reflects this adaptive response to conflict and chaos.
The Rise of Modern Militarized Efficiency
The industrial revolution marked a turning point, blending monotheistic zeal with market-driven pragmatism. Protestant work ethic—rooted in Calvinism—combined religious duty with secular success, effectively introducing “holy war” into commerce and industry. This gave rise to an era of relentless standardization, where efficiency, expansion, and success were the highest virtues.
Modern societies, modeled on industrial logic, increasingly value uniformity and replaceability. Whether in education, corporate workforces, or even lifestyles, the emphasis on "plug-and-play" individuals demands mediocrity as a baseline for societal operation. The exceptional, while celebrated in theory, becomes a disruptive force in practice.
Mediocrity as Adaptation
Given these historical and structural pressures, it becomes clear why mediocrity flourishes as a social norm. People are not inherently averse to excellence, but the systems in which they live shape their behaviors and aspirations.
Economic Realities
Most modern jobs prioritize predictability and reliability over creativity or genius. The “brick-in-the-wall” metaphor aptly describes how individuals are slotted into roles that maintain the system’s stability rather than its transformation. Pursuing greatness often involves risks that few can afford in a world where economic survival depends on conformity.
Cultural Conditioning
Education systems, designed for mass production of workers, teach uniformity over individuality. The industrial-era legacy persists, training students to meet standardized benchmarks rather than exploring diverse talents or unconventional paths.
Social Pressure
Societies that prioritize homogeneity for efficiency stigmatize deviation from the norm. Great athletes, polymaths, or philosophers often face isolation or resistance before their achievements are recognized. For many, the cost of standing out outweighs the benefits.
Cognitive Overload in Complex Systems
Modern life inundates individuals with choices and information. Navigating this complexity often leads people to prefer the path of least resistance—adhering to societal norms and pursuing average goals. Excelling in multiple domains, like becoming a polymath or philosopher, demands focus and energy that most people cannot afford amidst their day-to-day responsibilities.
The Cost of Standardization
The obsession with mediocrity is not without consequences. By prioritizing standardization and efficiency, societies risk eroding creativity, diversity, and innovation. The relentless pursuit of victory—be it economic, technological, or political—fosters short-term gains at the expense of long-term sustainability.
Loss of Cultural Richness
Standardized systems homogenize human experience, diluting the richness of diverse perspectives and practices.
Environmental and Social Strain
The industrial logic of infinite growth and expansion drives ecological collapse and social inequality, mirroring the unsustainable ethos of “win at all costs.”
Psychological Impact
Individuals caught in the mediocrity trap may experience existential dissatisfaction, yearning for a deeper sense of purpose or fulfillment beyond societal expectations.
Redefining Success: Beyond Victory and Mediocrity
To move beyond the mediocrity obsession, societies must challenge the narrative that equates progress with victory and efficiency. Instead, they can embrace a more balanced approach:
Valuing Diversity
Encourage systems that reward unique contributions and foster creativity, even if they don’t fit traditional measures of success.
Rethinking Education
Shift from standardized testing to personalized learning that nurtures curiosity and adaptability.
Cultivating Philosophical Perspectives
Encourage individuals to explore life’s deeper questions, valuing wisdom and reflection over material success.
Fostering Community
Rebuild systems that prioritize relationships and well-being over relentless competition.
Conclusion
Mediocrity thrives in the 21st century not because people lack ambition, but because it is an adaptive response to the demands of modern systems rooted in efficiency, standardization, and survival. While this adaptation supports societal stability, it often stifles individuality and creativity.
To reclaim a world that values greatness in its myriad forms, we must redefine progress—not as victory or efficiency, but as a journey toward harmony, diversity, and collective well-being. Only then can humanity escape the trap of mediocrity and embrace its full potential.
