A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
theatlantic.com
A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
1–10 of 69 posts
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#2Funny, Freud suggested something very similar in _Totem and Taboo_, and faced a lot of ridicule for it. Would be interesting if he were finally vindicated to some extent.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#3This is the old theory that the nobility domesticated peasants while the peasants were domesticating animals.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#4Unlike today's fake laws, Natural Law helped the advancement of humanity.
I can't say I'd be surprised if that theory was true.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#5This is the old theory that the nobility domesticated peasants while the peasants were domesticating animals.
In my reading of the TFA, it's not. It's the idea that less aggressive individual were naturally selected, partly via sexual selection of the males by the females, partly by pruning of the most violent individuals by the whole group.
Nothing to do with the domestication of one group by another.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#6Funny, Freud suggested something very similar in _Totem and Taboo_, and faced a lot of ridicule for it. Would be interesting if he were finally vindicated to some extent.
His theory of evolution has at least become mainstream in parts of the world.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#7This is the old theory that the nobility domesticated peasants while the peasants were domesticating animals.
In my reading of the TFA, it's not. It's the idea that less aggressive individual were naturally selected, partly via sexual selection of the males by the females, partly by pruning of the most violent individuals by the whole group. Nothing to do with the domestication of one group by another.
I agree. But there's no reason that nobility could not also have domesticated peasants.
However, it's arguably not about the group "pruning of the most violent individuals". Rather, it's about pruning individuals with low social status who resort to violence. That is, individuals who don't follow orders. Morgan's Black Man (aka 13) is an interesting take on this.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#8Funny, Freud suggested something very similar in _Totem and Taboo_, and faced a lot of ridicule for it. Would be interesting if he were finally vindicated to some extent.
His theory of evolution has at least become mainstream in parts of the world.
Are you sure you aren't mistaking him for Darwin?
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#9New? This was part of the philosophy in Fight Club. I remember hearing Chuck Palahniuk talk about it. Ted Kaczynski (of all people) believed humans had domesticated ourselves. I'm not sure what to make of an article that boldly claims "Wrangham grapples fully for the first time" with a theory older than I am. Certainly the author of the article didn't do his homework. Perhaps in the book the author acknowledges he didn't come up with the theory - I can't say without reading it. But clearly someone is grossly misrepresenting the facts here.
Re: A New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
In my reading of the TFA, it's not. It's the idea that less aggressive individual were naturally selected, partly via sexual selection of the males by the females, partly by pruning of the most violent individuals by the whole group. Nothing to do with the domestication of one group by another.
I agree. But there's no reason that nobility could not also have domesticated peasants. However, it's arguably not about the group "pruning of the most violent individuals". Rather, it's about pruning individuals with low social status who resort to violence. That is, individuals who don't follow orders. Morgan's Black Man (aka 13 ) is an interesting take on this.
>> But there's no reason that nobility could not also have domesticated peasants.
Also, no reason that the peasants have enabled the mobility to be in control so that it would be easier to domesticate each other.
You seem like a person who's just read a book and are trying to mention it everywhere.