Wings of Fire

The Human Journey

Art inspires philosophy and science.

Long before medicine paved the way for biotechnology and the possibility of neuroenhancement, such as in cosmetic surgery and the use of drugs, far beyond therapeutic purposes, we find in Western culture many examples that highlight the creative power of man and the ambition for perfection. The desire for self-improvement shapes human nature and is typical of Western culture: better intellectual performance, smarter minds, happier and healthier people, longer lives, and the desire to always excel in certain activities or domains.

Yet our Western culture also warns of the danger of man becoming a victim of excessive ambition, of wanting to assume the role of God and being able to extinguish personal identity and the human condition. This fear of playing with unknown power, interfering with the course of nature, taking the place of God, and the fear of the future and the unknown, also defines man.

This view of human nature, grounded and expressed in these constantly conflicting feelings, is very present in Western culture, dating back to Greek mythology.

Today, World Theatre Day is celebrated, and I would like to recall the play Prometheus by Aeschylus. Prometheus was condemned to suffer forever because he dared to defy the gods, despite them having endowed him, as well as humanity, with all the talents and knowledge necessary to survive as a species. Among these was fire, with which Man could control other beings and dominate Earth.

As punishment, Zeus orders Pandora to descend to Earth and open her box to reveal all the pains and evils of the human condition: greed, envy, hatred, pain, disease, hunger, poverty, war, and death. After Pandora shows all the evils, there is still ‘hope’ in the box, which Pandora lets fly out to also show Humanity that it is possible, with human talents, to touch the wounds created by human evils and heal them. Pandora released pain and suffering into the world, but also allowed hope to emerge in humanity.

Human Wings

Let now us recall the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. When Daedalus created wax wings for himself and his son, Icarus, to escape the labyrinth of Crete, he knew the potential and limitations of his invention. Survival would only be possible if both flew moderately. He advised Icarus: “Do not fly too high, for the sun may melt your wings, but if you fly too low, the moisture may harden them.” After taking flight, Icarus initially followed his father, but enthusiasm and overconfidence quickly took hold, causing him to fly higher and higher until he disappeared. Later, Daedalus searched for Icarus and recognized his wings in the water. The grief over his death led him to name that place “Icaria”.

This myth also symbolizes excessive courage, the hubris of all men who do not recognize the limits of their power. But this fiction is also one of the first incentives to overcome the limits and restrictions of the human condition. I don’t consider it merely a lesson about the disastrous consequences of humanity’s unlimited ambition. Daedalus, the father of Icarus, succeeded in this challenge, as he managed to escape the labyrinth and survive, symbolizing the proper use of knowledge and technology. Daedalus represents the fulfilment of a dream, albeit at the cost of an immeasurable loss, the death of his son, Icarus. However, as Walter Otto argues, this eternal duality is the “pleasure and torment” of human nature.

These myths offer deep lessons to humanity about the complexities of desire, defiance, and the pursuit of knowledge and freedom. Through Prometheus’s act of stealing fire, we learn the importance of challenging authority and seeking fairness and enlightenment, even in the face of severe consequences, as well as the willingness to endure suffering for the sake of empowering others.

However, Prometheus myth is also a cautionary reminder about the risks of hubris and the need to consider the possible tragic implications of one’s actions when challenging order. Similarly, the myth of Icarus underscores the dangers of recklessness in the pursuit of freedom and self-expression. Icarus’s tragic flight serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human ambition and the consequences of ignoring warnings and limitations. Both myths, especially through Daedalus, the father of Icarus, teach humanity the eternal importance of moderation and self-awareness in the face of adversity and the unknown.

Sara Fernandes

Research Fellow in the post-doctoral program in Integral Human Development (Porticus/Universidade Católica Portuguesa)

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