The autonomous vs. the obedient, the generalist vs. the specialist, the rural vs. the urban, the left vs. the right – these are all just variations on the same basic hunter-gatherer theme
And admitting that this isn’t where the article is pointing but taking the liberty anyway…A.M. Hickman wondered recently an idea that I was sure I was alone in having, that maybe why the west stays so angry at Iran/various Stans is that they’re the only places with real shepherds left.
That's an interesting guess about the matter -- but maybe the real problem is that the West is generally a particularly crazy bit of humanity right now and gets a little berserk and manic about pretty much anything that initially gets its goat (a bit of shepherd humor there). After all, witness how absolutely nuts and strident so many people from the West get online when anyone says pretty much anything that strikes them as 'not acceptable'. As to one possible reason (major or minor?) much of the West is so crazy, see my post of today: https://grundvilk.substack.com/p/more-likely-knock-on-effects-of-the
Edward Abbey used to chuck empty beer cans out the window, saying that the can was nothing compared to the road. The machine has a way, intentionally or not, of making it nigh impossible for nature to flow. It’s like a dam in so many ways. Where nature can’t flow, a hunter-gatherer is just a wistful abstraction, a lifestyle but not a necessity. An cultural anachronism like cowboys wearing boots…the west kills off real shepherds as fast as they spring up.
I guess the 'real shepherds' are just going to have to get tougher and smarter, then. Good goal. In my opinion, Abbey was something of an arrogant, pinky-bending slob. Probably didn't change his underwear very often, either.
Excellent post. This is one of my favorite subjects.
I truly believe that the majority of modern errors of thought (and probably all of the existential angst) are a result of not being fully integrated in the ancestral environment, particularly the simple HG system.
We have an ancestral shaped hole in our lives, and right now it is being filled with many poor replacements.
My pleasure. I just subscribed. Looking forward to the rest of your work.
And one of the best aspects of the modern world is that we are able to marry the best of ancient and modern: we can enjoy stable food supplies, yet get our ancient craving satisfied with sauna and ice tubs; we can enjoy anesthesia, yet get our filling of lactic acid in the gym; and on and on.
And admitting that this isn’t where the article is pointing but taking the liberty anyway…A.M. Hickman wondered recently an idea that I was sure I was alone in having, that maybe why the west stays so angry at Iran/various Stans is that they’re the only places with real shepherds left.
That's an interesting guess about the matter -- but maybe the real problem is that the West is generally a particularly crazy bit of humanity right now and gets a little berserk and manic about pretty much anything that initially gets its goat (a bit of shepherd humor there). After all, witness how absolutely nuts and strident so many people from the West get online when anyone says pretty much anything that strikes them as 'not acceptable'. As to one possible reason (major or minor?) much of the West is so crazy, see my post of today: https://grundvilk.substack.com/p/more-likely-knock-on-effects-of-the
Edward Abbey used to chuck empty beer cans out the window, saying that the can was nothing compared to the road. The machine has a way, intentionally or not, of making it nigh impossible for nature to flow. It’s like a dam in so many ways. Where nature can’t flow, a hunter-gatherer is just a wistful abstraction, a lifestyle but not a necessity. An cultural anachronism like cowboys wearing boots…the west kills off real shepherds as fast as they spring up.
I guess the 'real shepherds' are just going to have to get tougher and smarter, then. Good goal. In my opinion, Abbey was something of an arrogant, pinky-bending slob. Probably didn't change his underwear very often, either.
He had some great ideas but, yeah, a cake and eat it too fella. Agreed, tougher and smarter is the order of the day.
Excellent post. This is one of my favorite subjects.
I truly believe that the majority of modern errors of thought (and probably all of the existential angst) are a result of not being fully integrated in the ancestral environment, particularly the simple HG system.
We have an ancestral shaped hole in our lives, and right now it is being filled with many poor replacements.
Thank you for this post.
I agree. Lots of factory resets warranted. Thanks for your comment, Sam.
My pleasure. I just subscribed. Looking forward to the rest of your work.
And one of the best aspects of the modern world is that we are able to marry the best of ancient and modern: we can enjoy stable food supplies, yet get our ancient craving satisfied with sauna and ice tubs; we can enjoy anesthesia, yet get our filling of lactic acid in the gym; and on and on.
Many factory resets indeed.