Oddbean

Indeed, there was nothing resembling the monolithic state apparatus today in pre-historic societies, that were clan-oriented. So, while the individual freedom was purportedly much higher, individual possibilities were otoh much lower because of the constant scarcity due to oow technology. Also, in some societies (communities, rather), lethal violence was off the scale compared to current day society.

What I found interesting about the book is how super violent communities lived right next door to peaceful ones, both obviously choosing to live the opposite of what they saw next door and becoming more and more extreme in their opposition to the other. I think it has something to say about human nature and modern politics.

Unpopular opinion: this generation is too free with too many options created by free time due to technical advances. If I had to defend my position I would begin with personal experience. I often experience too many options as paralising. The lack of constraints on how I live and who I listen to as an authority is a difficult responsibility to bear. If I had to just get on with making my community a better place and spend more time in the home cooking and cleaning and less time pondering the possibilities it could be easier 🤷🏽‍♀️. I guess I just admitted to understanding why people feel they need the state to decide their morals for them. And for an example of how it is bad for society: Kids these days have time to wander whether or not they are the gender of their biological reality. They should be learning how to survive but instead confusion is being pushed on them in order to give them mental illnesses and make them easier to control... The people who come up with the lies should be working constructively to improve their own lot and that of their family and community rather than making this sh*t up and teaching it to children and adults through inclusion programs.