Biologists have been fond of discussing vestigial organs, such as the vermiform
appendix and the pineal gland, which appear to have shrunk to insignificance
in the course of ages, as regards any useful function in humans. The general
idea is the familiar one, now beloved of politicians, “use it or lose it”.
If we cease for an indeterminate number of generations to make use of one of
our organs or groups of organs, we may expect the said organ to atrophy, and
perhaps disappear in recognisable form.
It occurs to me as a substantial possibility that humans may in the course of
time lose the function of their limbs. Now that we spend most of our time in
metal boxes, controlling our movements by pressing buttons and levers, only
using our legs to stagger from the pub car park into the bar, and our arms to
lift morsels into our mouths, or jiggle with the computer keyboard, we cannot
expect to retain these organs in a fully functional state much longer. It is
true that we may try compensatory measures, like kicking a ball about or manipulating
an exercise gadget, but such activities rank low in comparison with rowing a
boat in a rough sea, or clambering over the mountainside with a dog for company.
One result of increasing urbanisation has been to divide the pattern of physical
activity between town and country. Living in the wild stimulates the urge to
walk, or if distances are too great, cycle. Even the collection of food is harder
there than in a town — even if you live out of tins, which you have to
collect and transport. In the city, walking is rarely inspiring, and may be
positively dangerous.
In the city are passive entertainments by the thousand, and perhaps there is
less drive to practise a creative hobby than in the wilderness where the landscape
inspires. There is a temptation for the city dweller not to exercise too hard.
And, in the long run, this passion for racing about in cages in an attempt to
get nowhere fast and do nothing when you get there seems to me distinctly unhealthy.
I have a nasty feeling that one of these days our sloth will catch up with us.