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do humans have a "default state" of organization?

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supersaiyan [he/him]@hexbear.net
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askchapo@hexbear.net
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I notice that some anthropologist believe all humans were egalitarian in the past, and others believe inequality was more common they we currently we think with hunter gathers.

This seems to along with anthropologist using modern hunter gathers as way to look at the past which is now considered not a best practice from what I read. Which this influenced the egalitarian hunter gathers idea even more.

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ChestRockwell [comrade/them, any]@hexbear.net
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I think all “states of nature” are kind of a myth. Some are useful myths, some aren’t. But we’re always informed by history and material conditions - we are “naturally” unnatural as tool users, cooks, etc.

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NettleTea [she/her]@hexbear.net
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GrouchyGrouse [he/him]@hexbear.net
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The classic example I always use for this is otters using rocks to break open clams on their bellies. Do animals use tools to create further tools? I can’t quite remember if that’s a uniquely hominid thing or not.

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ChestRockwell [comrade/them, any]@hexbear.net
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That is true yeah. It’s more trying to imagine a “natural” humanity without tools and such denies our humanity.

After all, “culture” is probably where most of our humanity comes from. Nature can be pretty brutal after all.

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