"ABSOLUTIST_STRAWMAN_NO_ONE_ACTUALLY_BELIEVES" This is itself a strawman! They spent huge swathes explaining exactly what was assumed to be true and by whom, a

"ABSOLUTIST_STRAWMAN_NO_ONE_ACTUALLY_BELIEVES" This is itself a strawman! They spent huge swathes explaining exactly what was assumed to be true and by whom, and what is still assumed by certain people/fields etc. And if the article isn't enough go read the comments section where the two authors (who are at the top of their field*) answer questions and critiques. Going by many comments here it would seem many have skimmed the article because it's too long and have come away with their own constructed reality of what it is even saying in the first place based being reactionary to certain statements without bothering to take in the context of what surrounds them. Similarly the comments section of the article consists of the authors re-iterating what they've already said. Yes it is nuanced, which is why it requires a close reading. David Graeber is easily one of best anthropological theorist of his generation from anywhere in the world. People who dismiss this because 'evidence' should wait for the book--a good chunk of which will be nothing but citations. This is not some generalized Joe Rogan friendly pop science or pop history (see: Pinker and Harari).