Our evolution as a species from hunter gatherer communities to what we deem to be our modern sophisticated civilisations has had many driving forces. We will come back to these again in the Chapter on Anthropology.
One of these driving forces is getting rid of as much uncertainty in our lives as we can. (In fact, the first stage, i.e. the move from hunter gatherer to farmer was, in itself, a move towards certainty in food supply).
We obviously believe that if we increase certainty we will be happier, richer, more secure, more comfortable, ultimately safer, and our species will propagate more successfully.
And, in the important area that our blog covers, i.e. the family, the certainty of long-term stable marriage was obviously seen as more favourable than the uncertainty of communal parenting for ensuring that our species propagated and prospered.
But human beings are nothing if not paradoxical!
The very certainty that we continually yearn for, and promises so much also brings challenges in many spheres (such as relationship, spirituality, family, joy, creativity, grief, sadness and the inevitable chaotic events of life) that are the very essence of being alive.
Such vital elements of our existence demand that we embrace, and understand the importance of uncertainty just as much as certainty.