Because we are adapted to stability, our social systems are fundamentally conservative

…

humans changed very rapidly […], to an almost universally dense, highly politically centralized, constantly warring collection of sedentary agricultural communities by 5000 years ago

I could just keep quoting. The whole thing is very readable and I encourage everyone to check it out. This concept of “algorithmic” (adaptable) vs “essentialist” (stable, adapted) tradition systems is really interesting.

I have little idea of what that could actually look like, other than imagining hunter-gatherers, but in the future. It’s fascinating to think about though.

PS

Okay you should definitely read it yourself, but here’s just two more quotes that pair especially well imo:

[That fact that we] see environmental change as such a deadly challenge says a lot about us.

…

we will have to learn how to let each other move without war