Uncertainty and the Search for Stability

By Dr Rajagopal Soondron

The mention of the word uncertainty does stir uncomfortable feelings within most of us.
Students of physics would have Heisenberg’s principle of uncertainty jumping to their minds, while financial analysts would be smiling as it evokes their past mental anguish in sorting out the difference between risk and uncertainty.

Could uncertainty be an evolutionary tool meant to stimulate us to greater heights in biological evolution? Who knows. Pic – American Planning

But do we need scientists or financial people to teach us about the uncertainties of life? For all of us will one day experience that stressful situation where we remain lost psychologically in no man’s land. This constant, unconscious preoccupation with our immediate or distant future is a source of chronic stress and discomfort for most of us; we remain vaguely in a state of limbo.

Our ancestors, coming out of the jungle, had experienced that bitter, gnawing sensation when they could not know where their next meal would come from. But down the ages, we have learned how to partially unravel that paralyzing inability to predict what the morrow has in store for us.

We have learned to master agriculture to ensure a steady food supply, built reservoirs to quench our thirst, constructed residences to protect us from sun and rain, and established police forces to keep marauders, predators, and poachers at bay. Yet each new generation of us does experience that same persisting uncertainty to different degrees — in spite of our education.

We remain worried: how healthy will we be the following day? After all, we are surrounded by an ocean of viruses, bacteria, and potential natural or manmade accidents or catastrophes. That doubt haunts all of us — both kings and paupers.

And this in itself, combined with our ignorance, determines much of our mindset and reactions to life’s challenges.

Consequently, our species has developed part of the brain to deal with this constant flow of uncertainties. No wonder some of us have cunningly capitalized on these uncertainties by inventing all sorts of betting and gambling strategies — as if telling themselves, “let’s face our fate squarely, let’s face the music head-on.” While others — men especially — find a lot of fun in guessing, for ninety minutes, which of 22 competing players would finally have the ball; there are so many possibilities and probabilities (P&P) that they go on whipping up their inner stress until finally the wave of P&P collapses to baseline — as the ball comes to rest in the goal net. Both the winning and losing supporters now know that their uncertainty is over — while certainty reigns supreme. Then rendezvous is taken for the next match to experience masochistically that uncertainty/certainty cycle yet again.

And in Politics

Politics — that serious social activity — is not immune to uncertainty.

Every action elicits an equal reaction. This is evident in countries where there is an influx of immigrants into richer nations. The socialists, welcoming those foreigners and believing in liberal democracy, endeavour to improve the welfare of all human beings. But naturally, the latter bring along their way of life and culture and find it uncomfortable to adapt to the local religion and beliefs. And so, the reaction is inevitable — the right-wing politicians feel that their millennia-old way of life is being threatened; they are uncertain about what their tomorrow will be like. The conservative wing builds up solid opposition to that perceived threat from abroad. Allergic to surprises, they love stability and comfort.

On the other hand, social liberalism can only promise the population the date of the next general election; it gives people the freedom to decide the best way to evolve a system for the good of everyone — a form of idealism; there is no guarantee of total safety and stability. It is a system that constantly keeps individuals on their toes — equivalent to a state of uncertainty, abhorred by most people. Liberals must perpetually weigh matters to find the best solutions to social problems — whether to take it easy or to protest and revolt. Opposed to them are dictators, oligarchs, totalitarian leaders, and monarchs — all ready to ensure temporarily a fixed way of life, carbon-copied to their whims and fancies; some may not love their rulers, yet they know for certain what lies ahead; doubt is minimal — the status quo is preferred. Conservatives and right-wing people may doubt climate change, espouse old traditions, follow extremist prophets, and uphold nationalism. Foreigners can profoundly shake their inner stability.

Political Neuroscience

Enter political neuroscience, which tells us that conservatives have part of their brain — the amygdala, the seat of emotions and responsible for threat signalling — more enlarged than in left-wing politicians. The amygdala is allergic to taking risks, which would throw the individual into a flutter. Emotions rule supreme here.

But for the left-wing political socialist spectrum, another part of the brain — the anterior cingulate cortex — becomes more hypertrophied; it deals with assessing ambiguity. Those facing constant uncertainties and social variation must keep their mind, emotions, and reasoning in constant gear and assessment, thereby cultivating more tolerance toward others.

Hence, in society, we may have these two opposite groups of people who react differently to prevailing conditions — engaging in time travel and dreaming of different futures. Should these be less stressful, both parties could adapt. But the moment that future becomes uncertain, some conservatives’ brains are ready to embrace extremist views and espouse the call of authoritarian politicians — to reject any new plan — thereby tightening their grip on anxiety, ambiguity, and uncertainty.

Should our educational system and social discourse stress the view that anything new will elicit positive or negative reactions from some of us? Must we train ourselves to adopt tolerance for changes seeping into our social contract, giving up fear of losing old beliefs, old social practices, and rituals, for the sake of better cognitive adaptation? Uncertainty must not make us slaves to doubts, discomfort, and anxiety. It must stimulate our brains to expect constant and perpetual changes — training us to adapt better.

Could uncertainty be an evolutionary tool meant to stimulate us to greater heights in biological evolution? Who knows.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 6 February 2026