SYMBIOSE

Contemplate this profound inquiry: are we truly human beings as traditionally perceived, or rather, do we embody a multi-species amalgam of consciousness?

This query is not merely a whimsical pondering, but a cogitative exploration into the essence of our existential being.

In the realm of contemporary scientific inquiry, an abundance of scholarly discourse has burgeoned over the past two decades, elucidating the intricate symbiosis between the microbial colonies residing in our gut and the intricate workings of our cerebral faculties.

These microscopic entities, in their crucial role as facilitators of digestion, neurotransmitter production, and personality modulation, manifest an unequivocal influence on our overall physiological equilibrium.

Furthermore, their adverse fluctuations have been ominously correlated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

It is thus discerned that these “foreign” entities, existing beyond the confines of traditional bodily delineations, function as an integral component akin to a vital organ, rather than intrusive foreign substances.

In light of this revelatory symbiotic relationship between gut microbiota and cognitive manifestations, a poignant contemplation emerges:

should we not broaden our conceptualization of the self to encompass these sentient companions within us?

Could it be posited that we transcend the conventional paradigm of Singular human existence, evolving into a composite entity comprising not only a physical corporeal vessel, but also an intricate web of symbiotic microorganisms?

This philosophical inquiry beckons us to reassess the boundaries of individual identity, prompting a fundamental reconsideration of our perception of personhood as not only a singular entity, but a complex, interconnected being intertwined with the unseen.

July 06, 2025 | UN