Define need? They took what they could get and often times starved because they couldn’t get what they needed, the extinction of many mega fauna happened before agriculture and over hunting was probably some level of factor even if it was simply the final nail. Let’s not take the Noble Savage BS and apply it to our ancestors it’s stupid when it’s done to native peoples and it’s stupid when it’s done to ancient humans, people have been people (intellectually) for up to 200,000 years we are not so different and are in many ways driven by the same things. These wealth hoarders in ancient times were probably great when wealth was food and food was survival, the problem now is that such math no longer works.
Disagree strongly. Some cultures value sustainability more than others, especially more than Western cultures.
I’ve seen the noble savage trope used too often by pro-colonists seeking to support their materialism, resource hoarding and genocidal behavior with the same argument you’re using ie. All people are essentially the same across time and cultures and you all would have done the same with what we had if it were you.
No. Western culture has set us on a path to extinction via climate change the likes of which we have never seen before. Western culture financializes and monetizes everything (even that which sacred, spiritually meaningful or has mostly artistic value) by worshipping at the altar of open markets and free trade. Its why so many people in the West have disproportionate wealth but aren’t really happy. Its why chronic illness has exploded in the past decade. Its a culture that often takes the life out of living and tries to fill the void with hedonistic consumerism and materialism. Its a culture that does not penalize or discincentivize waste and celebrates / promotes excess consumption.
Not to be too antagonistic, there are many positives it has brought about also.
But there is no question our ancestors did one thing much better than we do ie. sustainability. Climate change is all the proof you need for this.
Don’t need to go back to it entirely to adopt some of the wisdom. Like not taking more from the land than you need.
Define need? They took what they could get and often times starved because they couldn’t get what they needed, the extinction of many mega fauna happened before agriculture and over hunting was probably some level of factor even if it was simply the final nail. Let’s not take the Noble Savage BS and apply it to our ancestors it’s stupid when it’s done to native peoples and it’s stupid when it’s done to ancient humans, people have been people (intellectually) for up to 200,000 years we are not so different and are in many ways driven by the same things. These wealth hoarders in ancient times were probably great when wealth was food and food was survival, the problem now is that such math no longer works.
Disagree strongly. Some cultures value sustainability more than others, especially more than Western cultures.
I’ve seen the noble savage trope used too often by pro-colonists seeking to support their materialism, resource hoarding and genocidal behavior with the same argument you’re using ie. All people are essentially the same across time and cultures and you all would have done the same with what we had if it were you.
No. Western culture has set us on a path to extinction via climate change the likes of which we have never seen before. Western culture financializes and monetizes everything (even that which sacred, spiritually meaningful or has mostly artistic value) by worshipping at the altar of open markets and free trade. Its why so many people in the West have disproportionate wealth but aren’t really happy. Its why chronic illness has exploded in the past decade. Its a culture that often takes the life out of living and tries to fill the void with hedonistic consumerism and materialism. Its a culture that does not penalize or discincentivize waste and celebrates / promotes excess consumption.
Not to be too antagonistic, there are many positives it has brought about also.
But there is no question our ancestors did one thing much better than we do ie. sustainability. Climate change is all the proof you need for this.