Agriculture: “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race”

[Cliffy]

Prior to agriculture, humans lived happier, healthier, freer and easier lives, claims one of the world’s top scientists and thinkers. In an article published in Discover Magazine nearly 30 years ago, Pulitzer Prize winning anthropologist and evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond calls agriculture “a catastrophe from which we have never recovered.”

Diamond claims the domestication of plants and animals – which began around 10 to 15 thousand years ago – led to the eventual domestication of humans and is ultimately responsible for the “the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism that curse our existence.”
For approximately 2 million years prior to the advent of agriculture, gatherer-hunters enjoyed excellent health, social and sexual equality, very light workloads, plenty of leisure time and freedom from any form of government.

More: Agriculture: "The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race"

 

[petros]

A Putzpuller Prize winner that doesn't know his azz from a hole in the ground.

Plains tribes never had agriculture. They were in a state of perpetual war

 

[Angstrom]

It's a wonder why no one wants to do it

 

[darkbeaver]

The worst mistake in an undefined history is an undefined mistake, if you can't figure a mistake how reliable are you?

 

[Ludlow]

The worst mistake in an undefined history is an undefined mistake, if you can't figure a mistake how reliable are you?

The worst mistake of the twentiety century is you Darkbungchute

 

[darkbeaver]

The worst mistake of the twentiety century is you Darkbungchute

Will I get a statue?

 

[Ron in Regina]

Prior to agriculture, humans lived happier, healthier, freer and easier lives, claims one of the world’s top scientists and thinkers....http://returntonow.net/2016/05/29/agriculture-worst-mistake-humans-ever-made/

So not having a consistent and reliable source of nourishment
leads to happier, healthier, freer & easier lives? The homeless
jobless street people must be envied for their joyous lifestyles.

Without a consistent and reliable source of nourishment, there
would be no permanent dwellings, so nobody would have had
a real home. Constant wandering to chase whatever bug and
berry and root was in season in an effort to try & keep
something in your belly doesn't sound so much easier than
what we currently have.

Without a reliable & consistent food source (=agriculture),
there would be no time for the studies of science & medicine.
Lifespans of 25-30yrs sounds so attractive compared to the
hell we have to endure today....not.

 

[petros]

A great life of always trying to stay one step ahead of death, stealing women, killing your competitors, all while having the environment trying to kill you.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

So not having a consistent and reliable source of nourishment
leads to happier, healthier, freer & easier lives? The homeless
jobless street people must be envied for their joyous lifestyles.

Without a consistent and reliable source of nourishment, there
would be no permanent dwellings, so nobody would have had
a real home. Constant wandering to chase whatever bug and
berry and root was in season in an effort to try & keep
something in your belly doesn't sound so much easier than
what we currently have.

Without a reliable & consistent food source (=agriculture),
there would be no time for the studies of science & medicine.
Lifespans of 25-30yrs sounds so attractive compared to the
hell we have to endure today....not.

I doubt there was much written from that time so the speculation of how these early people spent their days and if they had any leisure time is just that. And they would have had some form of government (not likely formal). Elections would be held when one of they youngsters challenged the tribes elders. I imagine the rituals would be similar to gorillas and chimps do today.

 

[Jinentonix]

Dumbest theory I've heard in a while.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I'm sure there'd be no competition for territory, leading
to happier, healthier, freer and easier lives...not.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I'm sure there'd be no competition for territory, leading
to happier, healthier, freer and easier lives...not.

That is the fundamental problem with anarchy. The massive amount of government and police to keep the anarchists safe from each other.

 

[Cliffy]

Doesn't look like anybody actually read the article. Oh well...

 

[petros]

Of course it was read, that is why it is being mocked.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I too read the article before posting. Reading it & believing
it are two very different things.

 

[Angstrom]

the problem we have is overpopulation, as a result of Agriculture. The competition for resources is extremely high at this point.

 

[Curious Cdn]

Prior to agriculture, humans lived happier, healthier, freer and easier lives, claims one of the world’s top scientists and thinkers.

There is no way at all to know if this us true. One clue that it isn't is that almost everywhere in the world where the technology of agriculture became available, the people there took it up completely, regardless of their background, location or culture. This would not hsve happened if the pre-agricultural world was such a garden of eden.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Prior to agriculture, humans lived happier, healthier, freer and easier lives, claims one of the world’s top scientists and thinkers.

There is no way at all to know if this us true. One clue that it isn't is that almost everywhere in the world where the technology of agriculture became available, the people there took it up completely, regardless of their background, location or culture. This would not hsve happened if the pre-agricultural world was such a garden of eden.

Particularly since "happier," "freer," and "easier" aren't quantifiable, and "healthier" just barely so.

This isn't science, it's politics.

Actually, I take that back. This isn't even politics, it's just Cliffy.

 

[Walter]

Worst mistake of the human race was me not having the courage to ask Esther to the prom.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Worst mistake of the human race was me not having the courage to ask Esther to the prom.

You were probably too busy obsessing over men's genitalia.