Actually, this is the sun controlling the world, not humans. The sun exerts control by permitting plants to grow, and their fruit creates an excess of organic energy, which permits animals like humans to live. Humans have rather limited choice here; we can redirect the food by harvesting it and guarding against adversaries, but the best means to do so are heavily constrained by instrumental matters.
Locally, there is some control in that people can stop eating food and die, or overeat and become obese. Or they can choose what kinds of food to eat. But this seems more like “control yourself” than “control the world”. The farmers can choose how much food to supply, but if a farmer doesn’t supply what is needed, then some other farmer elsewhere will supply it, so that’s more “control your farm” than “control the world”.
I’ve begun worshipping the sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the sun. It’s there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, and a lovely day. There’s no mystery, no one asks for money, I don’t have to dress up, and there’s no boring pageantry. And interestingly enough, I have found that the prayers I offer to the sun and the prayers I formerly offered to ‘God’ are all answered at about the same 50% rate.
Actually, this is the sun controlling the world, not humans. The sun exerts control by permitting plants to grow, and their fruit creates an excess of organic energy, which permits animals like humans to live. Humans have rather limited choice here; we can redirect the food by harvesting it and guarding against adversaries, but the best means to do so are heavily constrained by instrumental matters.
Locally, there is some control in that people can stop eating food and die, or overeat and become obese. Or they can choose what kinds of food to eat. But this seems more like “control yourself” than “control the world”. The farmers can choose how much food to supply, but if a farmer doesn’t supply what is needed, then some other farmer elsewhere will supply it, so that’s more “control your farm” than “control the world”.
The world revolves around the sun.
-- George Carlin