The evolution book I’m reading is starting to make my perspective on the world all funny. Just a little. Today I was examining whole nuts in the bulk bin at the grocery store (that’s nuts still in the shell, kids–walnuts, filberts, almonds), and thought about the labor involved for people to crack them open and get the tiny bit of protein inside, before we had big machines or special tools.
Watching a tape of “Survivor” this morning, and thinking about these modern people edging close to an actual tribal way of life, (but not that close)… one of the female contestants said into the camera that she and her female friend felt that they needed the two strongest males around, as they were the only ones hunting and bringing them back food. Exactly. The women then went for a plant- and fruit-gathering expedition in the woods, as Rupert hauled back a big bag of fish. He smiled as he watched his tribe eating the fish, saying it “made [him] feel good to feed them.” One of the younger, attractive women expressed delight in his coming back with meat. Perfectly natural reactions, and reactions branded into our brains.
But it’s not a real tribe, because in an actual hunter-gatherer culture, the women would then proceed to pair up with Rupert and Burton, and the prize of regular food would be exchanged for passing on genes. True story! And, in a real hunter-gatherer society, the men who did not work, could not hunt or fish, and did not contribute, might in fact have been cast out, just like on the show. Of course, they wouldn’t be expelled to a fancy hotel or anything.
Yeah, I know. Blah blah blah!
I just ate lunch and watched a couple episodes of “The Awful Truth” on DVD. Now I’m gonna spend the rest of the afternoon reading.
Peanut.
Cacao nut.
filberting KD and Ginja
Yes, BUT, it could also be argued that in a “real” hunter-gatherer culture, the smartest and strongest members of the tribe would eventually invent tools. Then higher forms of technology. And eventually, they would develop that technology to a level where, in subsequent generations, the pursuit of art and culture and academic study would be feasible. And in time, the descendants of the smartest and strongest of those original tribe members would develop legal codes and systems of justice, and sooner or later nation-states would begin to emerge, some of them with governments elected by democratic means. Which (ideally) would allow for the eventual equal representation under the law of all members of the “tribe” regardless of their gender. And so on.
It’s called “evolution,” and it’s a pretty good deal, actually. And yes, it sometimes takes a very, very, very long time, but it’s not solely limited to our genetic makeup. And to the extent that it is, our ability to reason and negotiate and form new ideas and turn our society in new directions is all part of the evolution of our brains.
So don’t despair. It could be worse. We could all just be living under the shadow of Original Sin every minute of our lives.