The Myth of Violence
April 30th, 2008 by timbotronThere is a great misconception that complex society breeds violence and that simpler societies live harmoniously.
Like Ewoks.
Next time you have to listen to some crunchy hippie going on about making with world a better place by living in a tee-pee, beat them over the head with this one:
Steven Pinker’s talk on “The Myth of Violence” (TED Talks, 2007):
(via Sachs Report, via Lifehack)
May 1st, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Yes, indeed, and truly it is so.
Even verily.
One of my favorite books, and it is a beauty, is John Keegan’s “A History of Warfare”, which recounts the tales of the Zulu, Maring, Easter Island, the Mamelukes, Maori, Native N.Americans, Meso-Americans - Aztecs, Maya, Inca, the Persians, Greeks, and Romans of antiquity… and on.
Never was there found a ’start’ to warfare, nor a ‘horizon’ above or below which people, or nations, cease to fight.
In other words, we fight, as an expression of our native character, flawed though it may be.
This fellow puts it differently - War is Fun!
Liberals may cringe, but don’t tell me you don’t remember the exuberance - the rush of liquid heat in your body - playing pretend war, capture the flag, rugby, soccer, football… or even video-games replete with broken bones and bloody carcases, as they are.
Good post, timbuktu.