Assumptions, a Baby's Perspective, and the Concept of Umwelt

 The editor recently shared a fascinating anecdote. A relative's newborn, just a few months old, often gazes intently at "nothing" and sometimes even smiles. Infants around one year old are mesmerized by the ever-changing reflections in a glass, the shifting shapes of clouds, or the fluttering hem of a curtain in the breeze.
 
In contrast, most adults pay little attention to "nothing," rarely fixating on reflections or clouds. As we mature, we filter out what doesn't significantly impact us, selectively perceiving only what we deem important.
 
Consider a recent experience of mine: despite a notice of temporary closure being posted at my local supermarket for days, I still went shopping there. I had seen the notice multiple times but somehow overlooked it. I made an impossible mistake unconsciously and carelessly, and the worst part was that I didn't realize it until my actions were complete. I was amazed at myself. I missed a small change, like a notice posted at the store. We expect consistency, or perhaps it's a convenient assumption.
 
Similarly, you often see people so engrossed in their smartphones that they are oblivious to their surroundings, even in trains or elevators. At that moment, the smartphone screen is their entire world. However, the surroundings are constantly and irreversibly changing.
 
Choosing and acting on what is important greatly affects an individual's survival. We have likely acquired this ability through evolution. The world we perceive as important to ourselves is called "Umwelt" in biology. This concept is shared not only by humans but also by animals, insects, and other living beings.
 
For instance, imagine you are relaxing in a room, and a fly enters and approaches a snack on the table. For the fly, securing food and leaving offspring are the primary principles of action. Therefore, recognizing a safe and sure flight route to nutritious food is paramount. In its Umwelt, it doesn't recognize things like social media or TV shows. On the other hand, humans might care about the progress of a current sports event and not worry about obstacles or air currents between their current position and the food. Even though they share the same space, their Umwelt is entirely different.
 
Moreover, what is "important" varies for humans, depending on subjectivity, living environment, age, gender, experience, and social structure. Therefore, it is no longer expected to share the same Umwelt with someone else. However, living in different Umwelts creates diversity and allows for constructive exchanges of opinions.
 
Let's consider "discomfort." Imagine you visit a familiar café. The layout, employees, and cutlery are the same, creating a comfortable space, but you feel an inexplicable discomfort. Upon carefully observing the café, you notice that the fashion building next door, which was under renovation, has reopened. Further careful observation reveals that not only the scenery but also the flow of people and their conversations are quite different from before. You finally realize the cause of the discomfort, which changes your subsequent actions and mood. You might enter the reopened store out of curiosity and find unexpected treasures or come up with new ideas.
 
Initially, a small change that caused an inexplicable discomfort might act on your Umwelt and lead to significant innovation.

Greetings, I am Kuzei Ryosei, a novelist who delves into a diverse array of genres, spanning from the historical to the contemporary. My aim is to enchant readers with tales that breathe life into history and explore the intricate issues of modern society. I warmly invite you to reach out to me.