An idea that I have had for a while, and one that I was asked to share in conversation last night again, was a philosophical idea that attempts to answer why we as man, smoke.

People smoke but for what purpose, and for what reason. I will not use flowery language to illustrate this point, and instead be direct. Something that I have tried to be, more generally, within my recent time on earth.

You may have all heard of ‘man’s want for more power’ – relating to control, greed and so on.

Well…I sense a connection between this and the act of smoking.

The connection starts with fire; the element of fire, and when we first created fire.

You can take the act of smoking, and say that this act is to exert control over fire, to the extent that you set something alight, breathe it in and enjoy it.

I have not researched the subject any further. Perhaps I will, but firstly? I am going to, unfortunately, light a cigarette.