In the beginning, there was chaos.
Stimulus and perceptions entered consciousness, undifferentiated.
How to know what mattered most?
That was (and still is) the core question of the initiated.
For, from the very beginning of History,
Some emerged who claimed to know the inner workings of Reality.
Today, we call them intellectuals and scientists;
Back then, they were simply known as shamans and priests.
Order didn’t appear out of chaos — they created it.
From the repeating patterns surrounding them, they invented myths.
Early knowers told stories of Gods shaping the Universe,
To interpret all types of blessings and curses.
For, it is first and foremost the unpredictability of Nature,
Its apparent randomness, its endless changeability,
That human beings have always tried to conquer,
With magic, myths, stories — indeed, all forms of primitive theory.
Then, the philosophers imbued ‘reason’ with the power to decipher.
Through observations, experimentations and deductions,
They argued for the primary importance of the question,
Favoring doubts over the finding of a final answer.
In minds, a schism occurred. Life continued to be cyclic,
For all living beings are born, grow, mature and die.
But philosophers were drawn to Nature’s mechanics,
At first, to understand it. Then, to make it to comply.
While the revelations of traditions continued to appease the masses,
The expert vanguard built laboratories, libraries, factories — all fortresses.
As they progressed toward their certainties and efficiencies,
They realized that, with knowledge, they could rule over communities.