The End of Civilization, The Beginning of Emotions

The world was engulfed in a massive silence. The skyscrapers that once boasted of human greatness lay scattered like broken teeth towards the sky. For the survivor ‘Jun’, happiness became a word akin to an ancient artifact that might be found in a museum. Everything he believed to be happiness—stable job, larger apartment, recognition from others—had turned to ashes. What remained in his empty world was only the cold reality of survival.

Chapter 1: The Survival Signal from the Brain, ‘Pleasure’

Jun’s day was filled with animalistic instincts. Finding a safe place to sleep, quenching a burning thirst, and satisfying a terrible hunger. Then he discovered a rusty can. The moment he opened the can and put its contents in his mouth, a powerful thrill surged through his entire brain. This was not just a taste. It was the most primal and exhilarating ‘reward’ his brain sent him for successfully surviving.

There is a fact we often forget. Humans are, after all, animals. And the reason the animal brain is equipped with the emotion of ‘happiness’ is not to find the sublime meaning of life. It is a very practical ‘survival signal’ designed to increase the chances of survival.

• Green Light (Pleasure, Happiness): “That’s it! That’s a very good behavior for survival. Keep it up!” (e.g., eating food, maintaining body temperature)
• Red Light (Pain, Anxiety): “Danger! This is a situation threatening survival. Stop or avoid it immediately!” (e.g., getting injured, being isolated from the group)

The joy Jun felt from the can was like a stamp of approval from his brain, praising him for successfully completing the mission of survival.

Chapter 2: Why Happiness Should Melt Like Ice Cream

Cans were not found continuously. However, Jun was fortunate enough to discover a safe water source and a small garden. For the first few days, he was moved by a sip of water or a small fruit, but as time passed, that excitement gradually became routine. Where did the intense happiness he initially felt go?

This is the phenomenon known as ‘Hedonic Adaptation’. If the joy of winning the lottery lasted a lifetime, humans would no longer make any effort and would eventually become extinct. Our brains intentionally set a short expiration date for happiness to keep us engaged in the task of survival. Like ice cream, happiness is designed to melt away at the sweetest moments.

This design teaches us an important lesson. Happiness is not something to be obtained in a grand ‘one-time’ event in life, but rather something to be experienced ‘often and in small doses’, like enjoying ice cream that melts frequently.

Chapter 3: Humanity’s Strongest Survival Weapon, ‘People’

One day, Jun spotted a small figure moving beyond the gray world. It was the first other human, ‘Hana’, he had encountered in months. The emotion Jun felt at that moment was far greater and more overwhelming than all the joys of survival he had experienced until then. It was as if all the happiness circuits in his brain exploded at once. Why did he feel such immense joy compared to when he discovered food or water?

From an evolutionary perspective, humans were physically weak beings. They had no sharp claws or hard armor. Our only survival weapon was the ability to ‘stick together’, that is, our sociality. Survival was only possible when we hunted together, raised children together, and guarded against dangers together.

Thus, our brains were designed to perceive the existence of ‘people’ as the greatest reward.

• Joy of Social Connection: A positive signal that survival chances increase dramatically.
• Pain of Loneliness and Isolation: A strong ‘red light’ warning that survival is threatened by being separated from the group.

The warm glances and awkward conversations shared between Jun and Hana were not just emotional exchanges. They were the most powerful survival confirmation signals etched into humanity’s DNA for millions of years, signifying ‘Now we can survive together’.

Chapter 4: Is My Introverted Happiness Blueprint Wrong?

In civilized society, Jun considered himself an introverted person. After-work gatherings or weekend meetings often felt more like energy drain than enjoyment. However, Hana was different. Time spent with her did not exhaust him; rather, it made him feel alive.

This phenomenon occurs because the complexity of modern society clashes with our primal blueprint. The societies of our ancestors were small communities of about 100 to 150 people. Interactions within those communities were genuine and deep relationships directly tied to survival. But in modern society, we live with numerous strangers, forming superficial and competitive relationships. This brings immense fatigue to our brains.

Jun realized that he did not dislike people; he was simply exhausted by the ‘modern relationships’ that lacked the warmth of survival. The relationship with the one person he met at the end of the world perfectly satisfied the ‘happiness blueprint’ etched in his brain. The reason extroversion is advantageous for happiness is simply that they approach the ‘most certain source of happiness’—people—more frequently and actively; the blueprint itself is equally embedded in all of us.

Happiness is Not a Destination but a Compass

Jun and Hana built a small nest together. Their lives no longer included words like honor, wealth, or success. But when they shared the small fruits they harvested and leaned on each other’s warmth to gaze at the stars in the night sky, they were undoubtedly happy.

Jun realized that the ‘meaningful life’ he had pursued in the past was different from the ‘happiness’ he felt now. ‘Meaning’ is a high-level narrative created by human reason, while ‘happiness’ is an extremely animalistic and instinctual signal sent by our bodies. We often chase grand ‘meaning’, missing the sparkling signals of ‘happiness’ right here and now.

Even if the world collapses, happiness does not disappear. Rather, its essence becomes clear only after all the shells are stripped away. Happiness is not the final destination we must reach. It is an ancient compass installed within us that tells us we are on the right path for survival. Today, what is your compass trembling towards? Listen to that small, warm tremor.