I think the interesting point about avijjā in the teachings of paṭiccasamuppāda is that a “negative” can be a supporting/underlying condition, which reveals the human-awkward relationship with the air element.
Unlike other beings, humans seem to be more reliant on the air element in their communications. For example, the development of verbal fabrications into languages would not have been possible without the air medium. It is also said that humans are less capable of holding their breath underwater in comparison with other mammals. The relationship between the fire element and the air element have translated into myths of stealing the sacred fire from higher being.
Through our empirical knowledge, we observe that this over-reliance on the air element coincide with our relative superiority. We are at the top of the hierarchy of beings due to being supported by the ethereality of the air element - hence we are more “spiritual” so to speak. This translates into our obsession with metaphysical musings as a recipe to become even more superior. As a general rule, the more ethereal we are is the better - until reminded of keeping our feet on earth. It is therefore no wonder that humans tend to mourn their dead ones longer than other beings - where the cessation of breathing marks the beginning of death.
When we take sankhara as choices, we see how being dependent on the negative is perceived as a higher degree of autonomy - where anicca is perceived as nicca, and dukkha is perceived as sukha, and anatta is perceived as atta. The whole business of breath meditation can help us see these relations by slowing down the breath and the heart beat. In advanced states of concentration, breath is said to cease completely without affecting bodily heat.
Strangely enough, this relation with the air element can turn into imaginations, dreams and skepticism.
