![]() ![]() Many historical calamities, from deadly wars to ecological catastrophes, have resulted from this over-hasty jump. Having so recently been one of the underdogs of the savannah, we are full of fears and anxieties over our position, which makes us doubly cruel and dangerous. ![]() Sapiens by contrast is more like a banana republic dictator. Millions of years of dominion have filled them with self-confidence. Most top predators of the planet are majestic creatures. Moreover, humans themselves failed to adjust. In contrast, humankind ascended to the top so quickly that the ecosystem was not given time to adjust. As lions became deadlier, so gazelles evolved to run faster, hyenas to cooperate better, and rhinoceroses to be more bad-tempered. This enabled the ecosystem to develop checks and balances that prevent lions and sharks from wreaking too much havoc. Other animals at the top of the pyramid, such as lions and sharks, evolved into that position very gradually, over millions of years. That spectacular leap from the middle to the top had enormous consequences. ![]() Afterword: The Animal that Became a God.Bold, wide-ranging and provocative, Sapiens challenges everything we thought we knew about being human: our thoughts, our actions, our power. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |