Interesting but hard to read beyond the Hobbesian state of nature founding assumptions. I’m reading Graeber and Wengrow’s The Dawn of Everything a new history of humanity. I presume you haven’t read it, given your arguments, but you might really appreciate it!
Not sure what you mean by ‘Hobbesian state of nature founding assumptions’, although I’ll admit I’m pretty sympathetic to Hobbesian view. You mean the claim about most creatures living in a Malthusian struggle? Do you think that’s not true of non-human animals, or humans prior to availability of birth control? Or is your claim more like there’s something about humans that should be viewed as a stable trend away from Malthusianism, not an anomaly?
Interesting but hard to read beyond the Hobbesian state of nature founding assumptions. I’m reading Graeber and Wengrow’s The Dawn of Everything a new history of humanity. I presume you haven’t read it, given your arguments, but you might really appreciate it!
Not sure what you mean by ‘Hobbesian state of nature founding assumptions’, although I’ll admit I’m pretty sympathetic to Hobbesian view. You mean the claim about most creatures living in a Malthusian struggle? Do you think that’s not true of non-human animals, or humans prior to availability of birth control? Or is your claim more like there’s something about humans that should be viewed as a stable trend away from Malthusianism, not an anomaly?
Could you spell out your objection? It’s a big ask, having read a book just to find out what you mean!
Could you clarify what you mean? I have read the book and I don’t see the connection