The Most Successful Species?
Based off Chapter 6 (pt 2) of Humans in the Landscape
This section of the chapter concerning the most successful species concerns the development of society and culture, arguably the things which are the reason for the claim in the first place. The agricultural revolution can be cited as the source, as it is the reason for the development and subsequent prevalence of permanent settlements as opposed to nomadic groups. The same trend that applied to permanent and complex natural systems (an increase in biodiversity) came to apply to societal systems as well (in terms of culture and organization). The surplus produced from farming led to the development of a division of labor and a class system (bureaucracy, possibly as result of irrigation). Each member of the sedentary society began to fall into individualized roles, which in turn became a variety of jobs, which (with an increase in leisure opportunity), became culture, and society as we know it was born.
An analogy is made in the chapter connecting modern society with a parasite. Parasites and pathogens not only connect the whole of human society physically, but they also represent it. A comparison that stood out to me was that of nomadic conquering raiding societies such as the Vikings and Mongols. The bad sections of society such as unjust government, criminals, and marauders prey on the good sections, and put them in danger of also becoming bad. I would argue then that it would be possible for human society to rather be involved in a mutualistic relationship with itself instead; where good sections of society give to the bad, and can reap the benefits of an increase in goodness.
This section of the chapter concerning the most successful species concerns the development of society and culture, arguably the things which are the reason for the claim in the first place. The agricultural revolution can be cited as the source, as it is the reason for the development and subsequent prevalence of permanent settlements as opposed to nomadic groups. The same trend that applied to permanent and complex natural systems (an increase in biodiversity) came to apply to societal systems as well (in terms of culture and organization). The surplus produced from farming led to the development of a division of labor and a class system (bureaucracy, possibly as result of irrigation). Each member of the sedentary society began to fall into individualized roles, which in turn became a variety of jobs, which (with an increase in leisure opportunity), became culture, and society as we know it was born.
An analogy is made in the chapter connecting modern society with a parasite. Parasites and pathogens not only connect the whole of human society physically, but they also represent it. A comparison that stood out to me was that of nomadic conquering raiding societies such as the Vikings and Mongols. The bad sections of society such as unjust government, criminals, and marauders prey on the good sections, and put them in danger of also becoming bad. I would argue then that it would be possible for human society to rather be involved in a mutualistic relationship with itself instead; where good sections of society give to the bad, and can reap the benefits of an increase in goodness.
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