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It may have been true that our lives as hunter-gatherers were better in many respects. But the problem is that civilization inevitably defeated hunting and gath
by jonnathanson 13y ago
It may have been true that our lives as hunter-gatherers were better in many respects. But the problem is that civilization inevitably defeated hunting and gathering. And it always tends to, throughout the course of human history. Major technological advancement seems inevitably to outcompete the alternatives. While that advancement may or may not produce better outcomes, it always wins out. (For poignant examples, see: "Guns, Germs & Steel," "Why the West Rules (For Now)," and other large-scale historical analyses of this topic).
This doesn't mean Dr. Harari's point is invalid, but it may mean that the point is moot in praxis. We can't return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, so the only practical alternative is to continue on the technology treadmill, even if it diminishes quality of life in various ways. Over the last 30,000+ years, we don't seem to have found a way around this issue.