THE FATEFUL TRANSITION

The Class Video

Hal explores the burdens imposed on humanity as our ancestors transitioned from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture. This video includes Hal’s 30 minute talk, class discussion, and a fascinating post-class conversation.

The Fateful Transition

1.  The Paleolithic as a kind of Eden

          * IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

          * Hunting-Gathering as dangerous, adventurous, interesting

          * Hunting-Gathering limits population (1 person/sq. mile)

          * Nomadic, temporary residences

          * Periodic moving away from garbage

          * No killer diseases

          * Food shared among all members

          * Everyone makes their own artifacts

          * No accumulation of food, artifacts

          * NO POVERTY

          * NO STEALING

          * Egalitarian

          * Simple sociopolitical structure (the band)

          * NO WAR        

          * Warfare rare, small-scale

          * SINGLE, CONTINENT-WIDE CULTURE

          * A uniform  Eurasian culture(Oldowan, Acheulian,Mousterian)

          * A uniform North American culture (Clovis, Folsom)

2.  The Neolithic as a loss of Eden

          * OVERPOPULATION:  DRIVER OF BASIC CHANGE

          * Overhunting and extinction of megafauna (Late Paleolithic)

          * Agriculture supports dense populations

          * Agriculture as safe, onerous, dreary (Cain’s punishment)

          * Sedentary, permanent residences

          * Accumulations of garbage attract vermin

          * Killer diseases jump from domesticated animals to humans

          * Full-time specialists (farmer, artisan, priest, warrior, ruler)

          * Accumulation of food, artifacts hoarded within family

          * Food, artifacts stolen by raiding tribes, nations

          * Food, artifacts and labor taxed by warlord, government

          * GREED:  THE HUMAN INVENTION OF POVERTY

          * Leave little or nothing for others (1 billion at $1.00/day)

          * GREED:  THE HUMAN INVENTION OF SLAVERY

          * Sexual Trafficking

          * POWER:  THE HUMAN INVENTION OF TYRANNY

          * Hierarchical, authoritarian

          * Complex sociopolitical structures (city, state, empire)

          * POWER:  THE HUMAN INVENTION OF WAR

          * Warfare endemic, large-scale (World War II, Ukraine)

          * Genocide common, large scale (“Kill all the Amalekites”)

          * Warfare as organized theft

          * Villages, cities require defensive fortifications

          * PROLIFERATION OF INSULAR CULTURES

          * Thousands of local cultures

          * 6,000 extant languages

3.  What kind of animal are we humans?

          * Multiple forms of cognitive intelligence, ability

                   – Logical-mathematical

                   – Linguistic-verbal

                   – Visual-spatial

                   – Naturalistic, recognize flora/fauna, hunting/farming

          * Multiple forms of emotional intelligence, ability

                   – Interpersonal, empathic, social skills

                   – Intrapersonal, self-knowledge, introspection

                   – Existential, spiritual

                   – Pedagogical, teaching

                   – Bodily-kinesthetic

                   – Musical-rhythmic and harmonic

4. Physical challenges of the struggle for survival

          * Advances of technology and material culture

          * Technology, science as extensions of the body and mind                 – Industrial farming

                   – Clothing as second skin    

                   – Housing as boxes for living                 

                   – Modern medicine

                   – Modern transportation

5. Emotional challenges of daily living

          * What is the meaning of life?

          * The need for help beyond our own strength and abilities

          * Death and grief (belief in an Afterlife)

          * Regulation of sexual relations (Eve’s punishment)

          * Stresses displace empathy, love (Mary v Martha, Scrooge)

          * Family relationships (“honor thy father and mother”)

          * Anxieties about life, work, social relationships

          * Vulnerability to mental illness (DSM of Mental Disorders)

          * Prone to anger and violence

          * Murder (individual acts, mass shootings)

          * Need for play, recreation (Homo Ludens)