Agreed. There is a background cultural assumption in the Western world that the "state of nature" [1] is one of constant suffering. What I know of anthropology

Agreed. There is a background cultural assumption in the Western world that the "state of nature" [1] is one of constant suffering. What I know of anthropology suggests this is bullshit, and the truth is that there have been a huge variety of social structures in our prehistory. "The Dawn of Everything" goes into this. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_nature https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_nature