Happiness in the study of History In chapter 19 of his book, ‘Sapiens’, Harari examines happiness. He asks whether the transformation of human society by the industrial and scientific revolutions over the last 500 years, and the commensurate increases in wealth, have increased human happiness. He says that historians have researched the history of politics, society, […]
Human enhancement technology and the horrible challenges to equality that lie ahead
Throughout history the upper classes have always claimed to be entitled to their wealth on the basis of their claim that they are smarter, stronger and better than the lower classes. These claims were, and remain, largely delusions. The advantages of the upper classes are socio-political not “biological”. But with new scientific developments, the pretensions of the privileged threaten […]
Harari- Part 3, Nazi Humanists?
According to Harari Nazi ideology was humanist- which is not, of course, to say that it was “humane” or humanitarian. Harari says that humanism is constituted by any ideology which holds that Homo Sapiens have a unique and sacred nature different from all other animals and that this unique nature is the most important thing in […]
Yuval Harari- Part 2- Sapiens unique ability to gossip and to believe in things that do not exist
Harari discusses how Homo Sapiens were able to move from small hunter gather societies, usually comprised of 50-100 people, to larger more complex societies. Insects live in large communities. But in inflexible ways. Homo Sapiens are unique in our ability to live in large and complex communities in flexible ways. How did this come about? How were […]
The remarkable thought of Yuval Harari- Part 1 Introduction
There are many short histories of the world and histories of philosophy. Where to start? Some historians just write well without necessarily focussing on particular themes- Geoffrey Blainey is an example. Ian Morris and Jarod Diamond explore why the West developed before other parts of the world. Jarod Diamond argues for the primacy of geographical factors. He points to […]