Nature is a cruel mother. She spent millions of years creating millions of forms of life on Earth. And when she was done – she pitted them against each other. The sole purpose of this exercise was to see which of her creations were the best. Those that prevailed got to stay on the planet. Those that lost were forced off this world never to be seen or heard from again.

As the species’ were whittled down, a strange occurrence took place.

Man.

Descended from the primates, this species did something no other species had done before. It took a growth spurt. Man surged ahead, far beyond its animal brethren and developed consciousness, awareness, higher intelligence and imagination.

It used these greater evolutionary tools to its advantage. By casting stone unto stone, it could create fire. Using its imagination, it could use animal sinew to bend wood and combine it with a stick sharpened by stone to create a weapon that could be used from a distance.

What Mother Nature created was a species so above the rest of her creations, it could think outside its environment. In fact, it eventually got so good at manipulating the environment created for it that it went and made one of its own. As it did, its ability to dominate grew. The weapons and strategies used against its former predators outmatched them to the point of humiliation. Mother Nature had no answer for Man. She started losing control and could not maintain her grip much longer.

Once it was free of Nature’s reins, Man began to develop at an astonishing rate. Within a few millennia, it had used trees and rocks to build shelter and weapons. Animals, if possible, were consumed in their entirety not just for food but for bindings and clothing. Man used its inherent advantages to develop a clear focus and ruthless efficiency. This combination saw it continue its rise to dominance within the world built for it.

As its mind sharpened, its tools and structures followed suit. Once it could fortify itself and keep safe its women and children, Man sought to become its own creator. By building small settlements, the Alpha took his place at the top of his chosen settlement and declared himself leader and defender of all within his realm.

Threats came from all sides. Natural enemies still existed so the Alpha and his tribe of warriors would slay any animals that dare try to attack.

Rivals from the outside would attack to gain ownership over the settlement by directly attacking the Alpha. If that failed, they would try to take the women, children and any resources they could get hold of. If they failed, they may fail to become Alphas in their own and not be selected for mating.

The final enemy came from within. The Alpha had to be wary of those in his ranks that one or more may challenge him for the right to rule.

As Man progressed and his structures, tools and weapons grew more sophisticated, his natural enemies stopped being the animals. He had built such a divide that their existence posed very little threat. In fact, he hunted them for pleasure and for a challenge more than for survival.

So, what does Man do when there are no more natural predators? He creates new ones. Ones that are of the same species but have something he regards as a threat. Maybe they’re younger, faster, stronger or have more drive, determination and ideas. The Alpha’s position is compromised but he cannot show vulnerability even in the face of absolute defeat. He tells himself he is strong. He has his followers reassure him of his place at the top of the tree. But these followers would not question their leader and those that would would face consequences so they either repress their thoughts or show fealty to the challenger.

At such a point, an Alpha can quickly lose their position if they do not act. Until the twentieth century, they would have simply challenged their opponent to a duel of some sort. The terms and weapons used would have changed but the principle was the same – the current leader and the prospective one fight it out to see who is stronger. Whichever one is alive at the end either keeps their position or gains one.

This behaviour manifested into a more cynical, sinister and silent form after the Second World War. With so many centuries-long issues (war, famine, disease – you could put most of these issues under the broad scope of three of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) mostly resolved in the Developed World, and with many tools no longer acceptable, the typical way for Alpha’s to oust their challengers was outlawed.

So, what does Man do? He creates new ones.

These new tools don’t kill instantly and they don’t offer challengers any dignity, honour or nobility in the face of victory or defeat. The new tools, like those used to separate man from the animals, are designed to keep one set of Man away from the other. But what they do is they ensure those in the higher position can extract the advantages from those in the lower position without sacrificing anything of themselves but everything from the lower ranked male.

Hierarchies, networks, money, technology, corporations and bullying, whilst not new are now the primary force for men in Alpha-style positions to keep that position or move up the ladder.

A true Alpha, however, at least in the animal kingdom, exercises strength when necessary. He ensures his followers are looked after. His concern goes beyond himself and he will fight to protect those loyal to him.

But what of these false Alphas? The ones in companies who work tirelessly to stop those more capable and intelligent from overthrowing them? We can’t describe them as Beta as that would imply they take on a supporting and advisory role to one above them. Omega would suggest they have the positive traits of both Alpha and Beta. A man who can lead and support just as well but real interest in either.

Gamma is the worst of the Alpha and the Beta. They will be overly aggressive, protect their position at any cost even the expense of people and resources. These are more likely to become paranoid and insecure as they tend to have little to offer.

A Sigma is cunning and dangerous. They do not conform to society and don’t play the social game but win due to their ability to bend people to their will.

The Delta is the pretender. It hangs out with the more sociable males, Alpha and Beta but cannot generate the confidence to be either one.

Since large scale killings in the Developed World of Man no longer take place, more of these men with negative, counter-productive and destructive traits have been allowed to enter society with little consequence for their actions.

While physical attack is at a minimum in these areas, the threat still exists. A male of any type can choose to strike fear into his chosen target. But it is no longer apparent how it is done the higher up the ladder you go.

The world Mother Nature made is cruel but fair. If you are strong enough, you can live, survive and reproduce. The weak are killed or rejected as unworthy of reproducing with.

The world of Man, however, is cruel and unfair. If you are strong, the weak can come together to take you down for you are a threat and possess qualities they do not and may never have.

Mother Nature created a world where the strong can obtain higher positions and keep it by showing loyalty, honour and respect to those that follow and support.

With Man, the weak can obtain such positions through deception, confusion, manipulation and collaboration with others of similar ability. Together, they create a network designed to trick, fool and humiliate those that enter the web willing to do the right thing.

The difference between the world’s Mother Nature and Man?

Progress.

Nature encourages it from the viewpoint of evolution. Only the best genes earn the right to be passed on.

Man, however, through conscious thought, can convince himself that he is the best and only he can progress. All rivals must be suppressed, oppressed, repressed and, ultimately, removed from any trajectory pointed towards him.

Men who want to achieve real progress face an ever increasingly difficult struggle to do so.

This is the world as it is now and will only become worse. For a time.

Whether knowingly or not, the world of finance and economics has been slowly raising the bar by which previously simple utilities are becoming less accessible. A modest wage no longer buys a modest lifestyle. The average house cannot be bought by the average anymore. Those that bought a property in the eighties or any prior decade but maintained the same salary could not afford their house today.

Transportation, holidays, entertainment, food are all slowly becoming increasingly unaffordable for those who were average but are now considered beneath it. Those above the average, if they do not recognise it, will become average and then beneath if they are unable to keep climbing.

The artificial barriers created by Man are worse than those ones set by Mother Nature.

Mother Nature says if you survive an attack, you are given an opportunity to get better.

In Man’s world of concrete, steel and glass, if you slip you can find yourself tumbling without knowing it until it’s too late. There is no help because those around you are too weak to do so but must also appear compliant in front of those who gave the push. For they too fear being pushed themselves. Combined weakness from above and below ensures anyone with skill, talent and knowledge that poses a threat disappears.

How do the strong survive in such a world?

The options are few:

One – They play their leader’s game and appear compliant.

Two – They don’t sit quiet and get on with things. They must highlight their presence as valuable and ensure everyone knows it. This will make it difficult for them to be removed.

Three – They don’t get involved.

Such strategies will allow them to survive but it creates a different divide. One where the strong and capable don’t apply themselves to the world infested with paranoia and insecurity. The risk is too great.

So, where does the world go when the weak are gaining power and the strong no longer pursue it?

For the moment, it goes through trouble. A lot of trouble. Progress will slow because those with real power to make good change aren’t involving themselves too heavily. They’ll sit on the sidelines and watch the bickering and backstabbing.

The weak will always fail. It’s a question of time. They’re lack of abilities will shine through eventually.

And when they do, the strong will be waiting to take over and reset the balance.

Just as Mother Nature intended.

Until then…every man is an island.