Podcasts about Agricultural revolution

In the 1960s, a deep anxiety set in as one thing became seemingly clear: We were headed toward population catastrophe. Paul Ehrlich's “The Population Bomb” and “The Limits to Growth,” written by the Club of Rome, were just two publications warning of impending starvation due to simply too many humans on the earth.As the population ballooned year by year, it would simply be impossible to feed everyone. Demographers and environmentalists alike held their breath and braced for impact.Except that we didn't starve. On the contrary, we were better fed than ever.In his article in The New Atlantis, Charles C. Mann explains that agricultural innovation — from improved fertilization and irrigation to genetic modification — has brought global hunger to a record low.Today on Faster, Please! — The Podcast, I chat with Mann about the agricultural history they didn't teach you in school.Mann is a science journalist who has worked as a correspondent for The Atlantic, Science, and Wired magazines, and whose work has been featured in many other major publications. He is also the author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, as well as The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow's World.In This Episode* Intro to the Agricultural Revolution (2:04)* Water infrastructure (13:11)* Feeding the masses (18:20)* Indigenous America (25:20)Below is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation. Intro to the Agricultural Revolution (2:04)I don't think that people realize that the fact that most people on earth, almost the average person on earth, can feed themselves is a novel phenomenon. It's something that basically wasn't true since as far back as we know.Pethokoukis: What got my attention was a couple of pieces that you've worked on for The New Atlantis magazine looking at the issue of how modern Americans take for granted the remarkable systems and infrastructure that provide us comfort, safety, and a sense of luxury that would've been utterly unimaginable even to the wealthiest people of a hundred years ago or 200 years ago.Let me start off by asking you: Does it matter that we do take that for granted and that we also kind of don't understand how our world works?Mann: I would say yes, very much. It matters because these systems undergird the prosperity that we have, the good fortune that we have to be alive now, but they're always one generation away from collapse. If they aren't maintained, upgraded and modernized, they'll fall apart. They just won't stand there. So we have to be aware of this. We have to keep our eye on the ball, otherwise we won't have these things.The second thing is that, if we don't know how our society works, as citizens, we're simply not going to make very good choices about what to do with that society. I feel like both sides in our current political divide are kind of taking their eye off the ball. It's important to have good roads, it's important to have clean water, it's important to have a functioning public health system, it's important to have an agricultural system that works. It doesn't really matter who you are. And if we don't keep these things going, life will be unnecessarily bad for a lot of people, and that's just crazy to do.Is this a more recent phenomenon? If I would've asked people 50 years ago, “Explain to me how our infrastructure functions, how we get water, how we get electricity,” would they have a better idea? Is it just because things are more complicated today that we have no idea how our food gets here or why when we turn the faucet, clean water comes out?The answer is “yes” in a sort of trivial sense, in that many more people were involved in producing food, a much greater percentage of the population was involved in producing food 50 years ago. The same thing was true for the people who were building infrastructure 50 years ago.But I also think it's generally true that people's parents saw the change and knew it. So that is very much the case and, in a sense, I think we're victims of our own success. These kinds of things have brought us so much prosperity that we can afford to do crazy things like become YouTube influencers, or podcasters, or freelance writers. You don't really have any connection with how the society goes because we're sort of surfing on this wave of luxury that our ancestors bequeathed to us.I don't know how much time you spend on social media, Charles — I'm sure I spend too much — but I certainly sense that many people today, younger people especially, don't have a sense of how someone lived 50 years ago, 100 years ago, and there was just a lot more physical suffering. And certainly, if you go back far enough, you could not take for granted that you would have tomatoes in your supermarket year round, that you would have water in the house and that water would be clean. What I found really interesting — you did a piece on food and a piece on water — in the food piece you note that, in the 1980s, that was a real turning point that the average person on earth had enough to eat all the time, and rather than becoming an issue of food production, it became an issue of distribution, of governance. I think most people would be surprised of that statistic even though it's 40 years old.I don't think that people realize that the fact that most people on earth, almost the average person on earth, can feed themselves is a novel phenomenon. It's something that basically wasn't true since as far back as we know. That's this enormous turning point, and there are many of these turning points. Obviously, the introduction of antibiotics for . . . public health, which is another one of these articles they're going to be working on . . .Just about 100 years ago today, when President Coolidge was [president], his son went to play tennis at the White House tennis courts, and because he was lazy, or it was fashionable, or something, he didn't put on socks. He got a blister on his toe, the toe got infected, and he died. 100 years ago, the president of the United States, who presumably had the best healthcare available to anybody in the world, was unable to save his beloved son when the son got a trivial blister that got infected. The change from that to now is mind boggling.You've written about the Agricultural Revolution and why the great fears 40 or 50 years ago of mass starvation didn't happen. I find that an endlessly interesting topic, both for its importance and for the fact it just seems to be so underappreciated to this day, even when it was sort of obvious to people who pay attention that something was happening, it still seemed not to penetrate the public consciousness. I wonder if you could just briefly talk to me about that revolution and how it happened.The question is, how did it go from “The Population Bomb” written in 1968, a huge bestseller, hugely influential, predicting that there is going to be hundreds of millions of people dying of mass starvation, followed by other equally impassioned, equally important warnings. There's one called “Famine, 1975!,” written a few years before, that predicted mass famines in 1975. There's “The Limits to Growth.” I went to college in the '70s and these were books that were on the curriculum, and they were regarded as contemporary classics, and they all proved to be wrong.The reason is that, although they were quite correct about the fact that the human race was reproducing at that time faster than ever before, they didn't realize two things: The first is that as societies get more affluent, and particularly as societies get more affluent and give women more opportunities, birth rates decline. So that this was obviously, if you looked at history, going to be a temporary phenomenon of whatever length it was be, but it was not going to be infinite.The second was there was this enormous effort spurred by this guy named Norman Borlaug, but with tons of other people involved, to take modern science and apply it to agriculture, and that included these sort of three waves of innovation. Now, most innovation is actually just doing older technologies better, which is a huge source of progress, and the first one was irrigation. Irrigation has been around since forever. It's almost always been done badly. It's almost always not been done systematically. People started doing it better. They still have a lot of problems with it, but it's way better, and now 40 percent, roughly, of the crops in the world that are produced are produced by irrigation.The second is the introduction of fertilizer. There's two German scientists, Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch, who essentially developed the ways of taking fertilizer and making lots and lots of it in factories. I could go into more detail if you want, but that's the essential thing. This had never been done before, and suddenly cheap industrial fertilizer became available all over the world, and Vaclav Smil . . . he's sort of an environmental scientist of every sort, in Manitoba has calculated that roughly 40 percent of the people on earth today would not be alive if it wasn't for that.And then the third was the development of much better, much higher-yielding seeds, and that was the part that Norman Borlaug had done. These packaged together of irrigation fertilizer and seeds yielded what's been called the Green Revolution, doubled, tripled, or even quadrupled grain yields across the world, particularly with wheat and rice. The result is the world we live in today. When I was growing up, when you were growing up, your parents may have said to you, as they did me, Oh, eat your vegetables, there are kids that are starving in Asia.” Right? That was what was told and that was the story that was told in books like “The Population Bomb,” and now Asia's our commercial rival. When you go to Bangkok, that was a place that was hungry and now it's gleaming skyscrapers and so forth. It's all based on this fact that people are able to feed themselves through the combination of these three factors,That story, the story of mass-starvation that the Green Revolution irrigation prevented from coming true. I think a surprising number of people still think that story is relevant today, just as some people still think the population will be exploding when it seems clear it probably will not be exploding. It will rise, but then it's going to start coming down at some point this century. I think those messages just don't get through. Just like most people don't know Norm Borlaug, the Haber-Bosch process, which school kids should know. They don't know any of this. . . Borlaug won the Nobel Prize, right?Right. He won the Nobel Peace Prize. I'll tell you a funny story —I think he won it in the same year that “The Population Bomb” came out.It was just a couple years off. But you're right, the central point is right, and the funny thing is . . . I wrote another book a while back that talked about this and about the way environmentalists think about the world, and it's called the “Wizard and the Prophet” and Borlaug was the wizard of it. I thought, when I proposed it, that it would be easy. He was such an important guy, there'd be tons of biographies about him. And to this day, there isn't a real serious scholarly biography of the guy. This is a person who has done arguably more to change human life than any other person in the 20th century, certainly up in the top dozen or so. There's not a single serious biography of him.How can that be?It's because we're tremendously disconnected. It's a symptom of what I'm talking about. We're tremendously disconnected from these systems, and it's too bad because they're interesting! They're actually quite interesting to figure out: How do you get water to eight billion people? How do you get . . . It is a huge challenge, and some of the smartest people you've ever met are working on it every day, but they're working on it over here, and the public attention is over here.Water infrastructure (13:11). . . the lack of decent, clean, fresh water is the world's worst immediate environmental problem. I think people probably have some vague idea about agriculture, the Agricultural Revolution, how farming has changed, but I think, as you just referred to, the second half, water — utter mystery to people. Comes out of a pipe. The challenges of doing that in a rich country are hard. The challenges doing a country not so rich, also hard. Tell me what you find interesting about that topic.Well, whereas the story about agriculture is basically a good story: We've gotten better at it. We have a whole bunch of technical innovations that came in the 20th century and humankind is better off than ever before. With water, too, we are better off than ever before, but the maddening thing is we could be really well off because the technology is basically extremely old.There's a city, a very ancient city called Mohenjo-daro that I write about a bit in this article that was in essentially on the Pakistan-India border, 2600 BC. And they had a fully functioning water system that, in its basics, was no different than the water system that we have, or that London has, or that Paris has. So this is an ancient, ancient technology, yet we still have two billion people on the planet that don't have access to adequate water. In fact, even though we know how to do it, the lack of decent, clean, fresh water is the world's worst immediate environmental problem. And a small thing that makes me nuts is that climate change — which is real and important — gets a lot of attention, but there are people dying of not getting good water now.On top of it, even in rich countries like us, our water system is antiquated. The great bulk of it was built in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, and, like any kind of physical system, it ages, and every couple years, various engineering bodies, water bodies, the EPA, and so forth puts out a report saying, “Hey, we really have to fix the US water system and the numbers keep mounting up.” And Democrats, Republicans, they all ignore this.Who is working on the water issue in poorer countries?There you have a very ad hoc group of people. The answer is part of it's the Food and Agricultural Organization because most water in most countries is used for irrigation to grow food. You also have the World Health Organization, these kinds of bodies. You have NGOs working on it. What you don't have in those countries like our country is the government taking responsibility for coordinating something that's obviously in the national interest.So you have these things where, very periodically — a government like China has done this, Jordan has done this, Bolivia has done this, countries all over the world have done this — and they say, “Okay, we haven't been able to provide freshwater. Let's bring in a private company.” And the private company then invests all this money in infrastructure, which is expensive. Then, because it's a private company, it has to make that money back, and so it charges people for a lot of money for this, and the people are very unhappy because suddenly they're paying a quarter of their income for water, which is what I saw in Southwest China: water riots because people are paying so much for water.In other words, one of the things that government can do is sort of spread these costs over everybody, but instead they concentrate it on the users, Almost universally, these privatization efforts have led to tremendous political unhappiness because the government has essentially shifted responsibility for coordinating and doing these things and imposed a cost on a narrow minority of the users.Are we finally getting on top of the old water infrastructure in this country? It seems like during the Biden administration they had a big infrastructure bill. Do you happen to know if we are finally getting that system upgraded?Listen, I will be the only person who probably ever interviews you who's actually had to fix a water main as a summer job. I spent [it at] my local Public Works Department where we'd have to fix water mains, and this was a number of years ago, and even a number of years ago, those pipes were really, really old. It didn't take much for them to get a main break.I'm one of those weird people who is bothered by this. All I can tell you is we have a lot of aging infrastructure. The last estimate that I've seen came before this sort of sudden jerky rise of construction costs, which, if you're at all involved in building, is basically all the people in the construction industry talk about. At that point, the estimate was that it was $1.2 trillion to fix the infrastructure that we have in the United States. I am sure it is higher now. I am delighted that the Biden people passed this infrastructure — would've been great if they passed permitting reform and a couple of other things to make it easier to spend the money, but okay. I would like to believe that the Trump people would take up the baton and go on this.Feeding the masses (18:20)I do worry that the kind of regulations, and rules, and ideas that we put into place to try and make agriculture more like this picture that we have in our head will end up inadvertently causing suffering for the people who are struggling.We're still going to have another two billion people, maybe, on this earth. Are we going to be able to feed them all?Yeah, I think that there's no question. The question is what we're going to be able to feed them? Are we going to be able to feed them all, filet mignon and truffled . . . whatever they put truffle oil on, and all that? Not so sure about that.All organic vegetables.At the moment, that seems really implausible, and there's a sort of fundamental argument going on here. There's a lot of people, again, both right and left, who are sort of freaked out by the scale that modern agriculture operates on. You fly over the middle-west and you see all those circles of center-pivot irrigation, they plowed under, in the beginning of the 20th century, 100 million acres of prairie to produce all that. And it's done with enormous amounts of capital, and it was done also partly by moving people out so that you could have this enormous stuff. The result is it creates a system that . . . doesn't match many people's vision of the friendly family farmer that they grew up with. It's a giant industrial process and people are freaked out by the scale. They don't trust these entities, the Cargills and the ADMs, and all these huge companies that they see as not having their interests at heart.It's very understandable. I live in a small town, we have a farm down there, and Jeremy runs it, and I'm very happy to see Jeremy. There's no Jeremy at Archer Daniels Midland. So the result is that there's a big revulsion against that, and people want to downsize the scale, and they point to very real environmental problems that big agriculture has, and they say that that is reason for this. The great problem is that in every single study that I am aware of, the sort of small, local farms don't produce as much food per acre or per hectare as the big, soulless industrial processes. So if you're concerned about feeding everybody, that's something you have to really weigh in your head, or heavy in your heart.That sort of notion of what a farm should look like and what good food is, that kind of almost romantic notion really, to me, plays into the sort of anti-growth or the degrowth people who seemed to be saying that farms could only be this one thing — probably they don't even remember those farms anymore — that I saw in a storybook. It's like a family farm, everything's grown local, not a very industrial process, but you're talking about a very different world. Maybe that's a world they want, but I don't know if that's a world you want if you're a poor person in this world.No, and like I said, I love going to the small farm next to us and talking to Jeremy and he says, “Oh look, we've just got these tomatoes,” it's great, but I have to pay for that privilege. And it is a privilege because Jeremy is barely making it and charging twice as much as the supermarket. There's no economies of scale for him. He still has to buy all the equipment, but he's putting it over 20 acres instead of 2000 acres. In addition, it's because it's this hyper-diverse farm — which is wonderful; they get to see the strawberries, and the tomatoes, and all the different things — it means he has to hire much more labor than it would be if he was just specializing in one thing. So his costs are inevitably much, much higher, and, therefore, I have to pay a lot more to keep him going. That's fine for me; I'm a middle-class person, I like food, this can be my hobby going there.I'd hate to have somebody tell me it's bad, but it's not a system that is geared for people who are struggling. There are just a ton of people all over the world who are struggling. They're better off than they were 100 years ago, but they're still struggling. I do worry that the kind of regulations, and rules, and ideas that we put into place to try and make agriculture more like this picture that we have in our head will end up inadvertently causing suffering for the people who are struggling.To make sure everybody can get fed in the future, do we need a lot more innovation?Innovation is always good. I would say that we do, and the kinds of innovation we need are not often what people imagine. For example, it's pretty clear that parts of the world are getting drier, and therefore irrigation is getting more difficult. The American Southwest is a primary candidate, and you go to the Safford Valley, which I did a few years ago — the Safford Valley is in southeast Arizona and it's hotter than hell there. I went there and it's 106 degrees and there's water from the Colorado River, 800 miles away, being channeled there, and they're growing Pima cotton. Pima cotton is this very good fine cotton that they use to make fancy clothes, and it's a great cash crop for farmers, but growing it involves channeling water from the Colorado 800 miles, and then they grow it by what's called flood irrigation, which is where you just fill the field with an inch of water. I was there actually to see an archeologist who's a water engineer, and I said to him, “Gee, it's hot! How much that water is evaporated?” And he said, “Oh, all of it.”So we need to think about that kind of thing if the Colorado is going to run out of water, which it is now. There's ways you can do it, you can possibly genetically modify cotton to use less water. You could drip irrigation, which is a much more efficient form of irrigation, it's readily available, but it's expensive. So you could try to help farmers do that. I think if you cut the soft costs, which is called the regulatory costs of farming, you might be able to pay for it in that way. That would be one type of innovation. Another type of thing you could do is to do a different kind of farming which is called civil pastoral systems, where you grow tree crops and then you grow cattle underneath, and that uses dramatically less water. It's being done in Sonora, just across the border and the tree crops — trees are basically wild. People don't breed them because it takes so long, but we now have the tools to breed them, and so you could make highly productive trees with cattle underneath and have a system that produces a lot of calories or a lot of good stuff. That's all the different kinds of innovation that we could do. Just some of the different kinds of innovation we could do and all would help.Indigenous America (25:20)Part of the reason I wrote these things is that I realized it's really interesting and I didn't learn anything about it in school.Great articles in The New Atlantis, big fan of “Wizard and the Prophet,” but I'm going to take one minute and ask you about your great books talking about the story of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. If I just want to travel in the United States and I'm interested in finding out more about Native Americans in the United States, where would you tell me to go?One of my favorite places just it's so amazing, is Chaco Canyon, and that's in the Four Corners area — that whole Four Corners area is quite incredible — and Chaco Canyon is a sign that native people could build amazing stuff, and native people could be crazy, in my opinion. It's in the middle of nowhere, it has no water, and for reasons that are probably spiritual and religious, they built an enormous number of essentially castles in this canyon, and they're incredible.The biggest one, Pueblo Bonito as it's called now, it's like 800 rooms. They're just enormous. And you can go there, and you can see these places, and you can just walk around, and it is incredible. You drive up a little bit to Mesa Verde and there's hundreds of these incredible cliff dwellings. What seems to have happened — I'm going to put this really informally and kind of jokingly to you, not the way that an archeologist would talk about it or I would write about it, but what looks like it happened is that the Chaco Canyon is this big canyon, and on the good side that gets the southern exposure is all these big houses. And then the minions and the hoi polloi lived on the other side, and it looks like, around 800, 900, they just got really tired of serving the kings and they had something like a democratic revolution, and they just left, most of them, and founded the Pueblos, which is these intensely democratic self-governing bodies that are kind of like what Thomas Jefferson thought the United States should be.Then it's like all the doctors, and the lawyers, and the MBAs, and the rich guys went up to Mesa Verde and they started off their own little kingdoms and they all fought with each other. So you have these crazy cliff dwellings where it's impossible to get in and there's hundreds of people living in these niches in these cliffs, and then that blew up too. So you could see history, democracy, and really great architecture all in one place.If someone asked me for my advice about changing the curriculum in school, one, people would leave school knowing who the heroes of progress and heroes of the Agricultural Revolution were. And I think they'd also know a lot more about pre-Columbian history of the Americas. I think they should know about it but I also think it's just super interesting, though of course you've brought it to life in a beautiful way.Thank you very much, and I couldn't agree with you more. Part of the reason I wrote these things is that I realized it's really interesting and I didn't learn anything about it in school.On sale everywhere The Conservative Futurist: How To Create the Sci-Fi World We Were PromisedFaster, Please! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. 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What if we could revolutionize agriculture with biology instead of chemicals? Join Tim Schnabel, CEO of Switch Bioworks, as he delves into the company's mission to replace 50% of traditional nitrogen fertilizers with engineered microbes. Tim shares the scientific breakthroughs powering this shift, including microbial symbiosis, ammonia production, and precision field testing. From raising $28M in funding to building a mission-driven team, Tim unpacks the challenges, cultural values, and vision driving this movement toward a sustainable food future. Delve into the world of sustainable agriculture and fertilizer and find out “what is sustainable fertilizer?” and how Switch Bioworks are feeding the future.--- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!1:04 - From PhD project to company4:35 - The hidden cost of nitrogen fertilizer6:20 - Engineering microbes to fix nitrogen8:45 - Progress milestones and field testing11:30 - Challenges: scaling sustainable agriculture15:18 - The science behind the "Switch"18:00 - Vision: feeding the world sustainably21:40 - Culture of purpose and diversity29:15 - Lessons learned as a first-time CEOUseful links: Switch Bioworks' website: https://www.switchbioworks.com/            Switch Bioworks' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/switch-bioworks/  Tim Schnabel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schnabeltim/Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett explore pivotal historical moments about the English Civil War. They masterfully weave together religious conflict, economic transformation, and cultural dynamics to explain how this crucial conflict shaped modern capitalism, the Industrial Revolution, and even contemporary progressive politics. Their engaging conversation style makes complex history accessible and relevant. --

In this episode of History 102, In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg explore the origins, impacts, and global spread of the Industrial Revolution, from 18th century Britain to modern challenges. Unleashing progress or Pandora's box? This episode presents a unique perspective, framing the Industrial Revolution as "the magic of kings" - a transformative force that granted humanity godlike powers while leaving our fundamental nature unchanged.

Chapter 1:Summary of Sapiens"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari is a wide-ranging narrative that spans the history of the human species from the emergence of the first homo species to the present day. The book discusses how Homo sapiens came to dominate the world, identifying key revolutionary periods that have shaped human society.The book is generally divided into four major parts, based on what Harari identifies as major revolutions in human history: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution.1. Cognitive Revolution (c. 70,000 years ago): Harari suggests that about 70,000 years ago, Homo sapiens began to develop unique ways of thinking and communicating, such as the ability to believe in abstract concepts (like gods, nations, and human rights), the power of storytelling, and more complex societal structures. This set sapiens apart from other human species.2. Agricultural Revolution (c. 12,000 years ago): It marks the transition from foraging and hunting to agriculture which led to the formation of permanent settlements and a significant increase in population. Harari argues this shift allowed for the accumulation of goods and an increase in social hierarchies but also led to harsher living conditions for most people.3. Unification of Humankind: This refers to the gradual consolidation of human cultures into broader groups and eventually global unities. This involved the spread and clash of major empires, religions, and ideologies, which often led to the assimilation or wiping out of smaller cultures.4. Scientific Revolution (c. 500 years ago): Beginning with the Age of Exploration and Technological advances, this period brought new understandings of the world. This revolution increased human power dramatically, particularly through developments in science and industry, shaping the modern world.Harari discusses not only the past but also speculates on the future of humanity, touching on topics such as genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Throughout "Sapiens", Harari maintains a critical tone, questioning whether developments like agriculture and industry have really improved our happiness and challenging the reader to think about what the future holds for a species that continues to break boundaries.The narrative is supported by insights from anthropology, psychology, history, and economics, weaving a complex but engaging account of how we got to where we are and where we might be heading. Harari's book has been praised for its accessible prose and broad, interdisciplinary approach, though it has also faced criticism for oversimplifications and factual inaccuracies. Nonetheless, "Sapiens" has made significant contributions to public discussions about the understanding of human history and the future of humanity.Chapter 2:The Theme of Sapiens"Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari is a non-fiction work that explores the history of humanity from the emergence of Homo sapiens in the Stone Age up to the twenty-first century. The book is divided into four main parts, each exploring different pivotal stages in the journey of humankind. It does not have a narrative plot or character development in the traditional sense, as it is not a novel but rather an exploration of themes and concepts related to human history. Key Plot PointsThough "Sapiens" does not have a "plot" in the conventional narrative sense, it can be broken down into several key points according to its divisions, which focus on major turning points in human history:1. The Cognitive Revolution- Harari discusses how about 70,000 years ago, Homo sapiens began to demonstrate unique ways of thinking and communicating, enabling them to out-compete other species and inhabit various environments. This...

In this Episode #32, We delve into the fascinating story of human evolution, tracing our journey from single-celled organisms to the complex beings we are today. Starting 6-7 million years ago, when our lineage split from a common ancestor with chimpanzees, we explore key milestones like the rise of early hominins such as Australopithecus and the emergence of Homo habilis and Homo erectus. These species laid the groundwork for traits like bipedalism, tool use, and larger brain size. We'll also discuss the evolutionary forces that shaped us, including natural selection, genetic drift, and climate change. Beyond mainstream science, we explore unconventional theories like the Stoned Ape Theory, which suggests psychedelics may have played a role in our cognitive evolution and much more. (00:00) - Primitive Life (20:51) - Common Ancestors (25:57) - Australopithecus (35:05) - Dating Process (48:33) - Male and Female (51:00) - Theory of Mind (55:23) - What caused Cognitive Enhancements? (01:00:18) - Neanderthal & Homo Sapiens (01:09:35) - Sexual Selection (01:11:05) - Art and Language (01:14:31) - Tailbone (01:15:45) - Agricultural Revolution & Stone Age (01:17:52) - Religion (01:23:32) - Stoned Ape Theory/Psychedelics (01:29:22) - Survival of the Fittest (01:32:53) - Simulation & A.I

Spotlighting a diverse array of local agricultural products, the Agri Expo "Leading the Agricultural Revolution" provided a marketing boost as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Taiwan Technical Mission showcased Saint Lucia's strides in farming innovation and sustainability.

Controversial life of Marquis de Sade, explicit works, societal violence, personal struggles, politics during French Revolution, impact of scientific revolution on morality. Introducing universally preferable behavior. Stay tuned.Full series: https://rss.com/podcasts/sadism/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Get my new series on the Truth About the French Revolution, access to the audiobook for my new book 'Peaceful Parenting,' StefBOT-AI, private livestreams, premium call in shows, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2022Brief SummaryIn this part of the conversation, we explore the controversial life and works of the Marquis de Sade, including his explicit books and their film adaptations. We discuss how aristocracy and excessive praise contribute to violence in society. We delve into de Sade's troubled personal life and his involvement in politics during the French Revolution. The conversation also touches on the scientific revolution and its impact on morality. We introduce the concept of universally preferable behavior (UPB) as an alternative to morality. Join our community and access related content on our website. Anticipate the next part of the conversation.Chapters0:00:00 The Marquis de Sade: A Terrifying Legacy0:09:11 The Power of Excessive Praise and Addiction0:12:21 Control through Addiction: Praise and Criticism0:15:20 Childhood Experiences and Affectionate Figures in De Sade's Life0:17:51 Forced Marriage and Complicity of De Sade's Wife0:20:51 De Sade's Release and Inheritance of Title0:23:49 De Sade's Imprisonment and Transfer to Insane Asylum0:26:21 De Sade's Imprisonment for Criticizing Robespierre0:34:49 Cruelty as the First Sentiment in Nature0:37:42 The Profound Impact of the Scientific Revolution0:40:51 Science vs. Religion: The Battle for Morality0:43:24 The Agricultural Revolution and its Effects on Humanity0:48:43 The Origin of Morality and its Connection to Religion0:52:28 The Link Between Morality and Belief in the Divine

In this episode, we discuss the transformative journey of ChatGPT+ AI from lines of code to impacting bushels of crops, uncovering the ways in which this technology is contributing to a new era in farming. Invest in AI Box: https://Republic.com/ai-box Get on the AI Box Waitlist: ⁠⁠https://AIBox.ai/⁠⁠ AI Facebook Community

Tilling has been with us for 10,000 years or more, in some form. But as the Agricultural Revolution transformed farming in the 18th and 19th centuries, the method of cultivation became increasingly popular, primarily because tilling enables farmers to plant and weed more, fast, with very little effort. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

https://youtu.be/e4Cpj_wXF88?si=H_tpjtToaZ73DmSe TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Ch.15: Machinery and Large-Scale Industry (continued from video 1/2) Part 5: The Production of Absolute and Relative Surplus Value 03:00:12 - Ch.16: Absolute and Relative Surplus Value 03:21:03 - Ch.17: Changes of Magnitude in the Price of Labor Power and in Surplus Value 03:45:21 - Ch.18: Different Formulae for the Rate of Surplus Value Part 6: Wages 03:51:54 - Ch.19: The Transformation of the Value (and Respectively the Price) of Labor Power into Wages 04:06:23 - Ch.20: Time-Wages 04:19:02 - Ch.21: Piece-Wages 04:31:42 - Ch.22: National Differences in Wages Part 7: The Process of Accumulation of Capital 04:40:56 - Introduction to Part 7 04:44:10 - Ch.23: Simple Reproduction 05:08:54 - Ch.24: The Transformation of Surplus Value into Capital 06:11:14 - Ch.25: The General Law of Capitalist Accumulation Part 8: So-Called Primitive Accumulation 09:18:23 - Ch.26: The Secret of Primitive Accumulation 09:26:10 - Ch.27: The Expropriation of the Agricultural Population from the Land 09:51:58 - Ch.28: Bloody Legislation Against the Expropriated Since the End of the Fifteenth Century, The Forcing Down of Wages by Act of Parliament 10:08:01 - Ch.29: The Genesis of the Capitalist Farmer 10:11:10 - Ch.30: Impact of the Agricultural Revolution on Industry, The Creation of a Home Market for Capital 10:19:02 - Ch.31: The Genesis of the Industrial Capitalist 10:41:47 - Ch.32: The Historical Tendency of Capitalist Accumulation 10:48:27 - Ch.33: The Modern Theory of Colonization #2023 #art #music #movies #poetry #poem #photooftheday #volcano #news #money #food #weather #climate #monkeys #horse #puppy #fyp #love #instagood #onelove #eyes #getyoked #horsie #gotmilk #book #shecomin #getready 

On this episode, ‘Superorganisms' converge as Nate is joined by economist and anthropologist Lisi Krall to discuss the evolutionary origins of our current systemic predicament. Starting with the Agricultural Revolution, the evolutionary conditions of surplus and ultrasociality have combined to shape the way humans interact with their environment, ultimately leading to our current out of control global economy. Is this global system an inevitable emergent phenomenon of the human condition? Does surplus inherently breed inequality and hierarchy, such as the current capitalist system? What type of social evolution will we experience as we meet the limits of an expansionary system and move towards a Great Simplification? About Lisi Krall Lisi Krall is a professor of economics at State University of New York, Cortland. Dr. Krall engages a heterodox and transdisciplinary approach to understanding economic systems, their etiology, structure, dynamic, and the relationship between humans and the more-than-human world that is contextualized through them. She incorporates evolutionary biology, anthropology, history, heterodox economics, and deep materialism to understand how we arrived at this paradoxical moment where humans appear trapped in an economic system that functions as if it is not of this Earth at the same time it is clearly a material system. Her latest book, Bitter Harvest: An Inquiry into the War Between Economy and Earth, explores the formation and evolution of the economic system (the economic superorganism) that took hold beginning with the cultivation of annual grains and is now embodied in global capitalism. For Show Notes and more: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/86-lisi-krall Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eQNI4bUv_Fs  More details & show notes: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/86-lisi-krall 

Here's your Daily dose of Human Events with @JackPosobiec Save up to 65% on MyPillow products by going to https://www.MyPillow.com/POSO and use code POSO Download PublicSq for free at https://www.publicsq.comSupport the show

I AM SO GLAD you are here to listen to the first of a four part series around the book "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind". I read this book recently and it significantly changed my perspective on a lot but most importantly, the way we look at many "normal" or "natural" processes within this world as well as unsolved social issues.I had no idea this would be four parts when I started recording but here we are! In this episode specifically we discuss;The Cognitive Revolution (what sets humans apart from other animals)The Agricultural Revolution (from foragers to famers)The Industrial Revolution (from farmers to factories)The DM's are always open! Can't wait to hear from you.Keen to learn more about personal growth, career and money? Find me on Instagram or Tik TokWant to achieve your financial goals?Use my financial planner hereThanks so much for your support and listening it means so much to me. Please leave a rating or review if you're enjoying and we will chat in the next episode.Want to get in touch directly?sarah@theoneupproject.nzDISCLAIMER:The OneUp Project is an educational platform that provides information that is general in nature. There may be opinions or an individuals experience within this resource that should not be considered as recommendations or personal advice. Everyone's financial situation is so different and you must use the information within this resource at your own risk. Please complete your own due diligence before making any decisions based on the information in this resource. I am not a financial advisor and if you require expert advice please seek advice from a professional.

This podcast is a commentary and does not contain any copyrighted material of the reference source. We strongly recommend accessing/buying the reference source at the same time. ■Reference Source https://www.ted.com/talks/bruce_friedrich_the_next_global_agricultural_revolution ■Post on this topic (You can get FREE learning materials!) https://englist.me/66-academic-words-reference-from-bruce-friedrich-the-next-global-agricultural-revolution-ted-talk/ ■Youtube Video https://youtu.be/c3P0J02yMzw (All Words) https://youtu.be/g85nHQR58KY (Advanced Words) https://youtu.be/oJ6mt8kKNEE (Quick Look) ■Top Page for Further Materials https://englist.me/ ■SNS (Please follow!)

Today we discussed the philosophy and psychology behind the nature of man and its roots in early human history. We discuss the proper balance between factors of order and chaos in order to maintain the stability of a State and lead individuals towards fulfillment in life. We go on many tangents and still have a lot to discuss in the upcoming part 2.

During the medieval ‘agricultural revolution', new forms of cereal farming fuelled the exceptionally rapid growth of towns, markets and populations across much of Europe. The use of the mouldboard plough and systematic crop rotation were key developments and led to open-field farming, one of the transformative changes of the Middle Ages.Using new evidence from plant and animal remains from archaeological excavations in England, this lecture links these to wider developments in medieval society, notably growing social and wealth inequalities.A lecture by Helena Hamerow recorded on 23 March 2023 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London.The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/agricultural-revGresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/Website:  https://gresham.ac.ukTwitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollegeFacebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollegeInstagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollegeSupport the show

Raw Egg Nationalist discusses the ancient understanding between diet and social control and how food plays a key role in the enslavement as well as the liberation of humanity. The original Great Reset took place during the Agricultural Revolution with a transformation from animal-based agriculture to a plant-based diet. WEF's Great Reset seeks a global corporate governance where the citizenry once again returns to a meatless diet. Climate Migration will be one of the key ways globalism is advanced. We've been on a civilizational trajectory where liberalism has led to the liberation of humankind from itself which is essentially transhumanism. There is nowhere to hide from world government, we have to stand and fight, here and now. Watch On BitChute / Brighteon / Rokfin / Rumble / PentagonTube Geopolitics & Empire · Raw Egg Nationalist: Nowhere To Hide From World Government, We Must Stand & Fight #352 *Support Geopolitics & Empire! Become a Member https://geopoliticsandempire.substack.comDonate https://geopoliticsandempire.com/donationsConsult https://geopoliticsandempire.com/consultation **Visit Our Affiliates & Sponsors! Above Phone https://abovephone.com/?above=geopoliticseasyDNS (use code GEOPOLITICS for 15% off!) https://easydns.comEscape The Technocracy course (15% discount using link) https://escapethetechnocracy.com/geopoliticsPassVult https://passvult.comSociatates Civis (CitizenHR, CitizenIT, CitizenPL) https://societates-civis.comWise Wolf Gold https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=geopolitics Websites Twitter https://twitter.com/Babygravy9 Man's World https://mansworldmag.org The Eggs Benedict Option https://antelopehillpublishing.com/product/the-eggs-benedict-option-by-the-raw-egg-nationalist Raw Egg Nationalism Cookbook https://antelopehillpublishing.com/product/raw-egg-nationalism-cookbook Raw Egg Nationalist https://www.raweggnationalist.com Lnk Bio https://lnk.bio/RAWEGGNATIONALIST About Raw Egg Nationalist Raw Egg Nationalist is the star of the recent Tucker Carlson documentary The End of Men, author of multiple books on health and fitness, and figurehead of the raw egg nationalism movement. His latest book, "The Eggs Benedict Option", is the ultimate guide to the Great Reset plan for food, and how we can resist it and usher in a new pro-human future. The book is available now from antelopehillpublishing.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other third-party retailers. NOW ANNOUNCING: The MAN'S WORLD Magazine website and store. Visit the new MAN'S WORLD website (mansworldmag.org) to view every issue of the magazine and buy amazing exclusive merchandise, including based t-shirts and much more! *Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

Raw Egg Nationalist discusses the ancient understanding between diet and social control and how food plays a key role in the enslavement as well as the liberation of humanity. The original Great Reset took place during the Agricultural Revolution with a transformation from animal-based agriculture to a plant-based diet. WEF's Great Reset seeks a global […]

What can enhance yields, reduce costs, and give your farm a competitive advantage? The answer is precision agriculture! Listen as Michael Boehlje and Michael Langemeier, two professors from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, define this product of the agricultural revolution and its implications on the grain industry. About the guests:Michael Boehlje is a distinguished professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Center for Food and Agricultural Business at Purdue University. A major theme of his research, writing, and lecturing for the past 10 years has been the importance of strategic planning and thinking, and positioning the firm for longterm viability and success. Michael Langemeier is an associate director in the Center For Commercial Agriculture and  a professor in the Department Of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. His research interests include cropping systems, benchmarking, strategic management, cost of production, and technical and economic efficiency. Episode topics: Defining precision agriculture What does it look like to adopt precision agriculture?Limitations of precision agricultureStrongest players and supporters of precision agricultureFuture implications of precision agriculture on grain industry Resource: "Potential Payoffs of Precision Agriculture" by Michael Boehlje and Michael LangemeierTo find more helpful resources, be sure to visit the GEAPS website and the membership page.   Grain Elevator and Processing Society champions, connects and serves the global grain industry and its members. Be sure to visit GEAPS' website to learn how you can grow your network, support your personal professional development, and advance your career. Thank you for listening to another episode of GEAPS' Whole Grain podcast.

Welcome to episode #24 of The Awaken Indy Podcast. This week, we have Ethan Young and Stephen Andreanopoulos on the show. Both Ethan and Stephen are involved in permaculture practices, incorporating them into their work around garden design, tree plantings, and community projects. Both have been influential in educating others on the importance of land stewardship and designing edible landscapes. Today's episode will cover:What exactly is permaculture.Trees and their various resources.Building swales.Edible landscapes.Incorporating biochar. Why we've become divorced from the land and how to get back to nature. Faith as a source of guidance. And much more!If you're interested in connecting with Ethan:Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070978860267Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/organic_ethan/Email- youngfoodscapes@gmail.comResources:Folks This Ain't Normal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11521956-folks-this-ain-t-normal Geoff Lawton https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_r1ELEvAuN0peKUxI0UmwAnd Stephen:Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/qacrefarmsInstagram- https://www.instagram.com/qacrefarms/Email-Website- https://www.quarteracrefarms.com/?fbclid=IwAR2tXhcgpfwwPVVvMwBmf3YIjHTb5hvAZ6CTvrpxXVKFYpPSKxV9ic34kDUPodcast- https://open.spotify.com/show/4YASrL1zbTQQ5Ehec1Ei3a The Tree Nursery Stephen works for- https://www.woodywarehouse.com/We also appreciate it if you could like and share today's episode. Also, please subscribe to the show so you can receive updates when episodes come out. If you have any questions or recommendations, email us podcast@georgetownmarket.com. Enjoy!

Good Food Institute founder and CEO Bruce Friedrich explains GFI's thesis that our industrial meat production system is a threat to humanity that is even more dangerous than fossil fuel production, with serious jeopardy to humanity across climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, antibiotic resistance, pandemic risk, and more. All forecasts by agricultural economists indicate that meat consumption is going to rise inexorably, by between 70 and more than 100 percent by 2050. We are not going to convince consumers to change their diets, much like we are not going to convince the world to consume less energy or drive less. So, we need to remake meat.View the original talk and video here.Effective Altruism is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. EA Global conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet.Effective Altruism is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. EA Global conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet. You can also listen to this talk along with its accompanying video on YouTube.

Simon Mulcahy is the founder and lead of C02, a company created to help businesses of all sizes become net-zero—the point at which the greenhouse gasses we put into the atmosphere are equal to the amount we remove from it—and nature-positive. CO2 offers climate-action portfolios that support high-quality carbon dioxide removal and reduction, as well as the protection of important carbon sinks, all while benefiting nature and communities. CO2 will also include a learning hub to provide guidance on pathways to becoming net zero and nature positive. CO2 is a new division of TIME, Inc., where Simon is also President of Sustainability. TIME itself will be CO2's first customer as the company works towards becoming net-zero by 2026 (or earlier). TIME will also continue to focus on climate leadership in its editorial coverage. Simon and I met earlier this year at Dreamforce where I was on a panel called Sustainable To The Core that he moderated. I'm so excited to have him on the podcast and to share the work he's doing. In this episode we discuss: The difference between CO2 and a carbon offset marketplace Why it's important to invest in a diverse set of climate solutions How CO2 is using a “shark tank” of climate scientists to select their portfolio Key Takeaways: Analogies are a great way to give a frame of reference and put new ideas into context, but it is equally important to highlight where an analogy falls short. An analogy can shed light on where a familiar concept has been repurposed while leaving room to explain what aspects are entirely new. Using an investment portfolio as an analogy for CO2's Planet Portfolio is a great example. While the analogy captures the reasoning behind the portfolio approach CO2 is offering, the analogy falls short in other ways. For example, the Planet Portfolio's “return” is a planetary return, not a financial return. Also, every carbon credit from the Planet Portfolio is retired the moment it is sold, so there's no trading of the carbon credits the way there is trading of shares in an investment portfolio. Simon does a great job highlighting where the concepts are the same, and what the key differences are. An important takeaway about the Planet Portfolio is that it is a unique approach that any sized company can include in its sustainability strategy to complement its internal sustainability efforts. When embarking on an unfamiliar journey, it's important to have trusted experts and advisors who can support you along the way. Regulations on businesses are changing across the globe. As these changes accelerate, TIME Inc. identified a knowledge gap. This gap, if left unchecked, will limit the speed of adoption and will miss the opportunity to maximize the effectiveness of the sustainable business practices that are adopted. TIME created CO2 to fill that gap, and they are walking the walk. TIME is leading by example, becoming the first customer of CO2. The pace of economic revolutions seems to be increasing. An economic revolution is defined as the rapid and thorough displacement of a regime or system by a new and very different regime or system. The world's first economic revolution was the Agricultural Revolution. This marked the switch from hunter-gatherers to farmers. The transition period took about 7500 years. The world stayed in the agricultural revolution for about 6500 years, until the Industrial Revolution kicked off in England in the mid-1700s. With the industrial revolution, industry began to forge ahead. The Industrial Revolution includes three chapters: the steam engine, the age of science and mass production, and the rise of digital technology. The transition period from the agricultural age to the industrial age was significantly shorter than the previous transition. Both of these revolutions drastically changed the way societies functioned, and the laws that were needed to govern them. It seems we're on the edge of a new economic revolution. A displacement of systems we now know are degenerative is needed to protect the future of the planet and society. I hope this revolution centers on the values of humanity, equality, and conservation. I hope we are on the verge of a Regenerative Revolution. References: Connect with Simon on LinkedIn com The Edelman Trust Barometer Project Drawdown “The Oxford Principles for Net Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting” (PDF) Conservation International Connect & Share: If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading them! If this episode resonated with you, I ask you to send it to a friend. Help bring even more visibility to these leaders that are using business as a force for good! Subscribe to the Purpose and Profit newsletter to make sure you don't miss future episodes. This podcast is for you, the listener. I'd love to hear what resonated with you, or if you have a suggestion on who would be a great guest for this show. Please send me a note at info@KathyVarol.com.

Should we go back to a world before civilisation? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesWith high rates of infanticide, senicide and disease, not many of us pine for the era before human civilization, farms and nations. Yet anthropologists Yuval Harari and Jared Diamond have called the agricultural revolution a"trap"and humanity's "worst mistake”, arguing hunter gatherer life was more leisurely and free, as humans were not tied down to private property or oppressed by hierarchy.Is there a way to keep the benefits of industry and technology while also living as freely as our untamed ancestors? Should we go further and rewild to escape the status, hierarchy and oppression of civilisation? Or is this an impossible fantasy born out of a misunderstanding of anthropology and the idealistic myth of the ‘noble savage'?Paleobiologist Mark Williams, Conservative former cabinet minister Peter Lilley and former leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett weigh in on civilisation as we know it. Hosted by Güneş Taylor.There are thousands of big ideas to discover at IAI.tv – videos, articles, and courses waiting for you to explore. Find out more: https://iai.tv/podcast-offers?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=shownotes&utm_campaign=[iai-tv-episode-title] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Curious Minds, Christine Malec informs us about the importance and excitement around the agricultural revolution.

Let's learn how to protect our sensitive information on the iPhone. Michael Feir gives us a crash course on the security and privacy features available on iOS. Fern Lulham highlights a report reviewing a survey of online access information provided by UK museums and cultural heritage sites. Krystian Shaw, Founder of the Kamloops Self-Advocate Newsletter, joins us to tell us all about this newsletter for people with any disability. It's the Thursday Buzz with Bill Shackleton. On Curious Minds, Christine Malec informs us about the importance and excitement around the agricultural revolution. Joining us on this week's Roundtable conversation is In The Know contributor, Margrett Weldon.

Mmmmm Pudding Bones... It's time to EVOLVE, weirdos!  This is part ONE of our series on evolution and naturally we had to invite Mr. Anthropology minor himself HANDSOME JOE on the show to come teach us about some of the things he learned when he was hard at work NOT earning a degree in anthropology. This week Joe starts us off discussing a major SOCIAL evolution that made us the human beings we are today.  The AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION!  I know it sounds boring... and maybe it is... but not when Joe is teaching it.  How did we go from primitive humans to the Tesla driving, avocado toast munching, kama sutra reading beings we are today? Ashley takes over to tell us her absolute FAVORITE theory of evolution- the grooviest theory we've got-- known as the Stoned Ape theory.  Scientists are still searching for the answers to what on Earth (or beyond) enabled our species to enhance our intelligence and consciousness further than any other species on the planet?  Could it be... DRUGS?! And Lauren finishes the episode by teaching us some other totally plausible and not at all baseless theories on evolution that unfortunately come from our religious friends known as creationists.  Stay tuned for this section if you REALLY want to hear Joe lose his cool, just make sure you turn the volume down juuuuuuuust a skosh. 

By almost every datapoint you can imagine, we are living in the safest and best time in recorded human history. The "Information Age" is liberating individuals like never before. However, this transition will bring friction. We are transitioning to the fourth (and final phase) of human civilization and that is the Information Age, particularly, in the Metaverse. Cyberspace will bring opportunities to people all across the world who previously didn't have the same opportunities in the industrialized world. The "tyranny of place" - that is, of physical location - is about to end the nation-state as we know it. The Sovereign Individual explores the social and financial consequences of this revolutionary change. Unlike the Agricultural Revolution, the Information Revolution will not take millennia to do its work. Unlike the Industrial Revolution, its impact will not be spread over centuries. The Information Revolution will happen within a lifetime. When information societies take shape they will be as different from industrial societies as the Greece of Aeschylus was from the world of the cave dwellers. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts: https://anchor.fm/jsk/episodes/Its-the-best-time-to-be-alive--Ever----24-e1kc7b6 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jsk/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jsk/support ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

By almost every datapoint you can imagine, we are living in the safest and best time in recorded human history. The "Information Age" is liberating individuals like never before. However, this transition will bring friction. We are transitioning to the fourth (and final phase) of human civilization and that is the Information Age, particularly, in the Metaverse. Cyberspace will bring opportunities to people all across the world who previously didn't have the same opportunities in the industrialized world. The "tyranny of place" - that is, of physical location - is about to end the nation-state as we know it. The Sovereign Individual explores the social and financial consequences of this revolutionary change. Unlike the Agricultural Revolution, the Information Revolution will not take millennia to do its work. Unlike the Industrial Revolution, its impact will not be spread over centuries. The Information Revolution will happen within a lifetime. When information societies take shape they will be as different from industrial societies as the Greece of Aeschylus was from the world of the cave dwellers. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts: https://anchor.fm/jsk/episodes/Its-the-best-time-to-be-alive--Ever----24-e1kc7b6 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jsk/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/jsk/support ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sathya MokkapatiSathya is the Co-founder & President of Kheyti, an enterprise which reduces income variability and increases climate resilience for Indian small farmers. Kheyti offers a solution called “Greenhouse in a box” which comprises an affordable greenhouse bundled with access to training and advisory. It currently signed up 1000 farmers for its program. Prior to Kheyti, Sathya co founded CosmosGreen, an enterprise focused on creating production expertise in agriculture and making farm ownership easy. Sathya is also a passionate teacher who has trained over 20,000 students across India in Chartered Accountancy. As a thought leader for the sector, Sathya has written in Stanford Social Innovation Review, SciDevNet, Huffington Post, Business Line, The Hindu and Yourstory. He recently delivered a TED talk at TED ClimateCountdown in Scotland. Sathya is an Mulago Rainer 2018 fellow, Aspen New voices fellow 2016 fellow and Acumen 2014 fellow. He is a Chartered Accountant who worked with PwC, before starting his journey in agriculture. Sathya loves mountain motorbiking and photography.

As the three Cs - Covid-19, climate change and conflict in Ukraine - wreak havoc on global food supply chains, countries are grappling with the consequences of higher food costs. How should Malaysia be responding to the threat of food security amid rising food prices? Policy expert Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Fatimah Arshad, Research Fellow at UPM's Laboratory of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies argues for a Food First Policy to secure sustainable and resilient food sources.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

We dive into chapter 6 – Gardens of Adonis – of The Dawn of Everything by Graeber and Wengrow. Here we bust the myth of the “Agricultural Revolution” in two main senses. First, we bust the idea of agricultural development as a linear, deterministic, teleological transitional stage in human society. Second, we bust the idea of agriculture as a revolution that happened immediately, spread quickly, and never turned back. Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! patreon.com/thismachinekills Grab fresh new TMK gear: bonfire.com/store/this-machine-kills-podcast/ Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (twitter.com/braunestahl)

One midrash tradition attributed the universal flood to the polygyny and patriarchy of the ancient world, which was first documented in the Hebrew scriptures with Lemekh's wives, Adah and Zillah (Gen. 4:19). In this episode, Father Jayme transports listeners back in time, to our worship of the Great Mother Goddess of fertility and sustenance for some 35,000 years. The nascent patriarchy of the Agricultural Revolution then marginalized the “hidden” and “absent” women in scriptures. Drawing on the works of Diarmuid Ó Murchú and Marija Gimbutas, Father Jayme notes how new notions of warfare and conquest led to the creation of a new god in human image: the conquering LORD God of hosts! Father Jayme shares: “Like Cain, the Kurgan warrior spirituality conquered, putting other spiritualities to the sword and casting the long shadow of patriarchy over the land.” Thus, the quick transition in Genesis 6 from the “sons of God” dominating the “daughters of humanity,” to God's regret that God had created humankind. Ideas of polygyny persisted, and men in the ancient world felt the right to possess sex-object wives in addition to their childbearing wives. The situation was compounded by societal structures that valued sons over daughters, viewing sons as gain and daughters as loss. Father Jayme concludes that continued sexism and patriarchy, expressed in our domination of others and of Mother Earth, have set in motion forces that may be no less destructive than the universal flood in the days of Naamah & Noach.Have you seen the latest issue of Extraordinary Catholics magazine?Check out other podcasts by and for Inclusive Catholics!Support Extraordinary Catholics podcast!

Register to watch panel virtually on 9 Nov: https://thelongevityforum.com/registration-longevity-forum-2021 On this episode, Jim Mellon, co-founder of the Longevity Forum speaks with Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of Leon Foods and the lead on the National Food Strategy Report. The food system dominates the biosphere yet it has been collapsing from our harmful practices.  Without sustainable food, humankind is not sustainable. How can we work together with corporations and governments to ensure our agricultural practices keep us healthy and living longer? https://thelongevityforum.com

An accumulation of science, philosophy, mental health, and history to explain consciousness and the meaning of life.  In this episode, we discuss anthropological methods and evidence used to form our understanding of how we know what we know.  We then examine the lifestyle of early humans as hunter/gathers and the major changes -physiological, diet, brain, mind, conscious - as humans transitioned into an agricultural lifestyle. 

I was trying to remember the name of the French philosopher Marquis de Sade.Join the discussion on the FB grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/dailyarchetype/Also DailyArchetype on IGThis one I will be adding a reading to for the podcast this month:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id1zUHEAxrg&t=80sMusic (Three kinds of Sun) by Norma Rockwell and the theme by studio star gazer, with voices by:  Eli Harris, Katrice Beal, Annie Phung and Allison Drew (not in that order). If interested in helping with the production or to become a guest, please send an email to dailyarchetype@gmail.comSupport on Venmo @isaac-Miller-83 Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/Dailyarchetype)

"As the cost of food rises, the quality and amounts of food decrease. We must do what is necessary to ensure we have access to quality food and enough food by growing our own. An agricultural revolution is what is needed."

Most of this miniseries will be biographical sketches of a few of the more daring power-grabbers in history. But this initial episode is on why there are so few women in power anyway. I'll take a look at the evidence for more powerful women in pre-history, followed by the impact of the Agricultural Revolution and the rise of city-states.This episode is part of the series Women Who Seized Power.Please visit the website for sources and more info.

Until around 12,000 years ago, humans lived as hunter-gatherers. With the domestication of plants and animals, however, new dimensions for cultural evolution suddenly became possible. But why did our ancestors take up farming after thousands of years of successful hunting and gathering? This episode discusses the causes and effects of the agricultural revolution.   https://www.insightfulthinkersmedia.com/   Related Reading:   Barker, G. (2009). The agricultural revolution in prehistory: Why did foragers become farmers? Oxford Univ. Press   Diamond, J. M. (2017). Guns, germs, and steel: The fates of human societies. New York: W.W. Norton & Company   Svizzero, S., Tisdell, C. A. (2014). The Neolithic Revolution and Human Societies: Diverse Origins and Development Paths. Working papers on economics, ecology and the environment, Issue 19.

In this episode we take a look at the impact on early civilizations as a result of the Agricultural Revolution and how ancient spirits transformed into gods of kingdoms.

What makes humans human? This is the ancient question that is still unanswered in Anthropology. These 2 part episodes will discuss how Harari demonstrates the History of Mankind and how unique of a position we are in. Let's See how we can apply what Harari clearly and jaw-droppingly demonstrates to us. Part ONE: Cognitive and Agricultural Revolution. Part TWO: Agricultural and Scientific Revolution Book – Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Apple Ratings & Reviews: Click Here for Apple Podcasts Show Notes, Tips & More: Click Here for Linkedin Page Contact Me or Be a Guest: Click Here for Podcast Website Share a link to my podcast: Click Here for Link to Podcast Platform Selections --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shivadhana/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shivadhana/support

What makes humans human? This is the ancient question that is still unanswered in Anthropology. These 2 part episodes will discuss how Harari demonstrates the History of Mankind and how unique of a position we are in. Let's See how we can apply what Harari clearly and jaw-droppingly demonstrates to us. Part ONE: Cognitive and Agricultural Revolution. Part TWO: Agricultural and Scientific Revolution Follow my LinkedIn Page for exclusive show notes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learn-or-be-learned Book – Sapien: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Want to give me a book or guest recommendation, apply to be a guest, give feedback, see the episode transcript, donate and support, and more? Check out my website here: http://learnorbelearnedpodcast.wordpress.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shivadhana/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shivadhana/support

In this episode: Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle, how I escaped a cult, why we must care about others, and how it can all be applied to persuasion, art creation, ideology, and modern life. We delve into some of the philosophical reasons behind what makes one “good” at rhetoric. I talk about how some of Lacan's, Freud's, and Jung's psychological writings can be used to cultivate authority, humanity, and logic. As I explain each pillar of the triangle, I'll then use that same method to analyze my own life to give a better idea of who I am: my ethos of what led me to co-found Jam Street Media, the pathos of my grandmother's imperative to me, and the logos of the book that caused my exodus from religion. My Photography - www.instagram.com/faseycrancoMy Twitter - www.Twitter.com/faseycrancoMy Website - CaseyFranco.comJam Street Media - JamStreetMedia.comSuggest a topic: godsmastersandclout@gmail.comChapters -00:56 - Episode Introduction4:20 - The Rhetorical Triangle14:40 - Ethos (The Concept)30:55 - My Ethos (What I'm Credible to Speak On)39:24 - Pathos (The Concept)55:16 - My Pathos (How My Grandmother Sees Me)1:00:10 - Logos (The Concept)1:12:45 - My Logos (Using Logic to Escape a Cult)1:29:53 - The Wrap-upLinks and Citations -School of Liberal Arts Rhetorical Triangle Analysis - https://www.lsu.edu/hss/english/files/university_writing_files/item35402.pdfSalvoj Zizek on Gratification of Capitalist Consumption - https://youtu.be/P18UK5IMRDIManipulation vs Persuasion by Michael Roberts - https://medium.com/@michaelwroberts/the-difference-between-persuasion-and-manipulation-27eb4c02fd2dMeerkat Facts - https://www.natgeokids.com/au/discover/animals/general-animals/meerkat-facts/Social Contract Theory - https://iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/Michael Heumer, The Problem of Political Authority: An Examination of the Right to Coerce and the Duty to ObeyLiberalism - https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/244/Stanley Milgram's Experiment on Obedience and Authority - https://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/socialpsychology/section7/How to understand power - Eric Liu - https://youtu.be/c_Eutci7ackLacan's “Big Other” - http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/lacan/terms/other.htmlFreud's “Superego” - https://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.htmlSam Harris on Freewill and Genetic determinism - https://samharris.org/the-illusion-of-free-will/Lacan on Desire - https://www.lacanonline.com/2010/05/what-does-lacan-say-about-desire/Zizek on the lack of a “Big Other” - "What is the big other?" - The Pervert's Guide To Ideology 2012 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwIDNW89AqQTurlock's churches - https://townsquarepublications.com/turlock-worship/Videos I made for iHeart -Lacan on “The Subject” - http://www.english.hawaii.edu/criticalink/lacan/terms/subject.htmlEmpathy - https://lesley.edu/article/the-psychology-of-emotional-and-cognitive-empathy#:~:text=According%20to%20Hodges%20and%20Myers,but%20without%20the%20self%20actuallyEffects of the Agricultural Revolution - https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/effects-of-the-agricultural-revolution/#:~:text=The%20increase%20in%20agricultural%20production,loosely%20regulated%20agricultural%20market%2C%20andYuval Noah Harari on Human Superiority - https://ideas.ted.com/why-humans-run-the-world/Lacan's “Signifiers” - https://nosubject.com/SignifierReptile Brain vs Mammalian Brain - https://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_05/d_05_cr/d_05_cr_her/d_05_cr_her.htmlGenetic predisposition vs Experience - https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392Structuralism - Calhoun, Craig, ed. 2002. "Structuralism." In Dictionary of the Social Sciences. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780195123715.Joseph Campbell's “The Hero With a Thousand Faces” - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/588138.The_Hero_With_a_Thousand_FacesDavid Hume's Moral Philosophy - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-moral/Lacan's “Signifiers” - https://nosubject.com/SignifierLacan's “The Real” - https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/english/theory/psychoanalysis/definitions/real.htmlPriming - https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/primingCarl Jung on “The Stages of Life” - https://www.philosophicalsociety.com/archives/Carl%20Jung's%20Stages%20of%20Life.htmInitiations into Adulthood - https://robertmoore-phd.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=35Inductive vs Deductive Reasoning - https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/inductive-deductive-reasoning/The Scientific Method - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-method/Rationalism vs Empiricism - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationalism-empiricism/Hypothetico-Deductive Reasoning - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetico-deductive_modelScience and Absolute Truth - https://bit.ly/3bG4VAwThe Validity of The Theory of Evolution - https://www.globaltruthproject.com/single-post/the-present-truth-about-life?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjY6Jtt7c6wIVl4WRCh3AcgsjEAAYASAAEgKNsfD_BwEPhilosophy Tube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8NVy00tfdICrime Correlates Poverty -  https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=242128How race corresponds to poverty - https://inequality.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/Pathways_SOTU_2017_poverty.pdfThe Lies of “The Bell Curve” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBc7qBS1UjoSFX and Music -GMaC Theme by Camille StennisAmericana Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Ancient Rite Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Kalimba Relaxation Music Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Sonatina in C Minor performed by Kevin MacLeod

On this special episode of The Content Clearinghouse, Brett does his best to convince Josh to read his absolute favorite piece of content ever: Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Yuval Noah Harari is not just notable for being the most mentioned person on The Content Clearinghouse. He is a historian, philosopher and best-selling author. Yuval's first book Sapiens is a big picture look at the history of humankind, from the evolution of archaic human species up to today... including an alarming peek at the possible future science may bring to fruition. The Cognitive Revolution, The Agricultural Revolution, The Unification of Humankind and The Scientific Revolution are the major turning points in our history avoiding to Yuval Noah Harari. The Yuval Revolution, The Unification of Information and The Content Revolution are the major turning points in this episode of The Content Clearinghouse according to Brett Chisholm. Thanks for listening and be mindful.     Content: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind Yuval Noah Harari: Official Website Mindful Maus: Brett's MBSR Teacher GQ Article: The Most Important Survival Skill Hobbit histories: the origins of Homo floresiensis Sam Harris Neanderthal DNA Tweet How to Change Your Mind Book MBSR Wikipedia   Follow Us: All of our links! Facebook Instagram Sponsor: Best Maps Ever

Following up our episode on the Agricultural Revolution, this episode The Rise of the Machines takes a look at a lot of the technological advancements made during the 1st & 2nd Industrial Revolutions, including the Steam Engine, Railroads, Textile equipment, oil and steel production, and manned flight.

Meat production is destroying the planet and jeopardizing our health -- but people aren't going to eat less meat unless we give them alternatives that cost the same (or less) and that taste the same (or better). In an eye-opening talk, food innovator and TED Fellow Bruce Friedrich shows the plant- and cell-based products that could soon transform the global meat industry -- and your dinner plate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything in history has either a good or bad connotation. The Agricultural Revolution: good. The Rise of Big Data: bad. But what if we're wrong? Yuval gave me an example. And showed me just how wrong we might be about our own human evolution. (Also, if you like what you hear, make sure to check out the full episode with Yuval Noah Harari. Thanks - James).   I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.   Links & Resources: 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari  Visit Yuval's website www.ynharari.com  Yuval's course on Coursera   Also Mentioned: "The Ultimate Guide to Self Publishing," which you can get for free right now by visiting jamesaltucher.com/publish. This guide will tell you how I made money self-publishing, why I think everyone should publish a book (it can be 100 pages or 10 pages, doesn't matter), how this can help your career and help you financially and so much more. Check it out at jamesaltucher.com/publish Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts Stitcher iHeart Radio Spotify   Follow me on Social Media: Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram   ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn

Within the context of the Dominion Covenant, there is no contradiction between conventional farming and organic farming. Assigned Reading: – Agricultural Revolution in England, Mark Overton

BGM：Remi《Ape》 、Nujabes《Ordinary Joe》参考：《人类简史：从动物到上帝》、《第三种黑猩猩 : 人类的身世与未来》                                               下周五停更一期《人类简史：从动物到上帝》1. 就证明混种繁衍理论至少有部分正确。但这也不是说替代理论完全错误。毕竟，尼安德特人和丹尼索瓦人的基因仍然只占了现代人基因组的一小部分。2. 现代中东和欧洲的人类而言，有1%~4%的尼安德特人DNA。虽然这百分比并不高，但意义却很重大。几个月之后，从丹尼索瓦人的手指化石中取得DNA、完成定序，结果又投下了第二颗炸弹：结果证明，现代美拉尼西亚人及澳大利亚原住民最高有6%的丹尼索瓦人DNA。3. 在2010年底发表，却掀起了一片惊涛骇浪。基因学家终于从化石里收集到足够的尼安德特人DNA，能够和现代人类的DNA全面比较，而结果令科学界一阵哗然。4. 根据混种繁衍理论，智人来到尼安德特人的地盘时，两个人种开始互通繁衍，直到合而为一。但如果真是如此，今天的欧亚人就不该是纯种智人，而是智人和尼安德特人的混血儿。同样，在智人抵达东亚的时候，也会和当地的直立人混血繁衍，因此，今天的中国和韩国人也该是智人与直立人的混血儿。 至于另一种完全相反的观点，称为“替代理论”，讲的是双方水火不容，互有反感，甚至会发生种族灭杀。根据这一理论，智人和其他人种的生理结构还是有所不同，不仅交配习性难以相合，甚至连体味都天差地别。所以，想要天雷勾动地火，简直是天方夜谭。而且，就算是有个尼安德特人的罗密欧配上了智人的朱丽叶，但因为两个人种在基因上相去太远，也无法产下可繁衍的后代。于是，这两个人种还是泾渭分明，而等到尼安德特人不管是自然灭绝还是遭到屠杀，他们的基因也同样灰飞烟灭。就这种观点看来，智人所做的，就是取代了所有先前的人种，而不是和他们混种繁衍。而如果真是如此，现今所有的人类只要追本溯源，都该能够一路追到7万年前的东非，都是“纯种”的智人。 这两种理论何者正确，会对后面的推论造成极大影响。从演化的角度来看，7万年其实一点儿也不长。如果替代理论正确，也就是说所有现代人类的基因库大致相同，现在我们看到的各种种族差异就小到无足挂齿。然而，如果混种繁衍理论正确，那么可能在数百万年前，就已经种下了现代非洲人、欧洲人和亚洲人之间的基因差异。这点可以说是政治上一触即发的火药，可能发展出爆炸性的种族理论。5. 智人来到阿拉伯半岛的时候，欧亚大陆多半都已经住着其他的人种。那么，这些其他人种后来怎么了？关于这点有两种完全不同的理论。第一种是“混种繁衍理论”，讲的是不同人种一见钟情、两情相悦、互相交融；认为智人从非洲迁移到世界各地，与其他人种混种繁衍，而形成今天的人类。 例如，智人抵达中东和欧洲的时候，就会遇上尼安德特人。这些人的肌肉更发达，脑容量更大，也更能适应寒冷的气候。他们会用工具，会用火，打猎技巧高明，而且还有铁证证明他们会照顾病人和弱者。（考古学家从尼安德特人的遗骸发现，有些人有严重的身体残疾，但活了相当大的岁数，可见有亲属提供照料。）许多漫画都把尼安德特人描绘成愚笨又粗鲁的“穴居人”，但近来的证据证明并非如此。6. 烹调让人类能吃的食物种类更多，减少所需的进食时间，还能缩小牙齿、减少肠的长度。有学者认为，烹调技术的发明，与人体肠道缩短、大脑开始发育有直接关系。不论是较长的肠道或是较大的大脑，都必须消耗大量的能量，因此很难兼而有之。而既然有了烹调，人就能缩短肠道、降低能量消耗，可以说是在不经意之间，烹调让尼安德特人与智人走上了让大脑更大的道路。7. 黑猩猩要咀嚼生肉，每天得花上五个小时，但人类吃的是熟食，每天花上一小时就够。8. 例如，黑猩猩要咀嚼生肉，每天得花上五个小时，但人类吃的是熟食，每天花上一小时就够。9. 这场从中段到顶端的大跳跃，造成的影响翻天覆地。其他在金字塔顶端的动物（例如狮子、鲨鱼）得要花上好几百万年的时间，才终于通过演化站上顶峰。因此生态系统有时间发展出种种制衡，避免狮子和鲨鱼造成太大的破坏。随着狮子越来越强壮，演化也让瞪羚越跑越快，鬣狗越来越懂合作，犀牛脾气越来越差。相较之下，人类转眼就登上顶端，不仅让生态系统猝不及防，就连人类自己也不知所措。在过去，居于食物链顶端的食肉动物总是威风凛凛、霸气十足，数百万年的统治，让它们充满自信。但相比之下，智人就像是个香蕉共和国的独裁者。我们在不久之前，还是大草原上的小可怜，整天充满恐惧和焦虑，但这也让人类更加残酷和危险。人类历史上众多的灾难，不论是生灵涂炭的战乱还是自然生态的浩劫，其实都是源自这场过于仓促的地位跳跃。10. 10万年前智人崛起，人类才一跃而居于食物链顶端。11. 我们以为，有比较大的大脑、会使用工具、有超凡的学习能力还有复杂的社会结构，都可说是人类巨大的优势。而且似乎不证自明，正是这些优势使人类成为地球上最强大的动物。然而，其实人类早就具有这些优势，但在整整200万年期间，人类一直就只是一种弱小、边缘的生物。大约在100万年前，虽然人类已经有了容量较大的大脑和锋利的石器，却还是得一直担心害怕食肉动物的威胁，他们很少猎杀大型猎物，维生主要靠的就是采集植物、挖找昆虫、追杀小动物，还有跟在更强大的食肉动物后面吃些剩下的腐肉。12. 人类之所以会有突出的社交技巧（以及同样人类独有的社会问题），有一大原因也正出自于此。独自一人的母亲，如果还得拖着孩子，就很难为自己和小孩取得足够的食物。所以，想养孩子，就需要其他家族成员和邻居持续提供协助。要养活一个小孩，得靠全部落共同的努力。于是，演化也就偏好能够形成强大社会关系的种族。此外，由于人类出生的时候尚未发育完全，比起其他动物，也就更能够用教育和社会化的方式加以改变。大多数哺乳动物脱离子宫的时候，就像是已经上釉的陶器出了窑，如果还想再做什么调整，不是刮伤，就是碎裂。然而，人类脱离子宫的时候，却像是从炉里拿出了一团刚熔化的玻璃，可以旋转、拉长，可塑性高到令人叹为观止。正因如此，才会有人是基督徒或佛教徒，有人是资本主义者或社会主义者，又或有人好战，有人爱好和平。13. 直立行走也有不利的一面。原本，人类的远古祖先历经数百万年，才发展出以四肢行走、头部相对较小的骨架，而要将这种骨架调整成直立，可说是一大挑战，而且还得撑住一个超大的头盖骨，更是难上加难。于是，为了能望远、能有灵活的双手，现在人类只得面对背痛、颈脖僵硬的苦恼代价。 这点对妇女来说造成的负担更大。直立的步行方式需要让臀部变窄，于是产道宽度受限，而且别忘了婴儿的头还越来越大。于是，分娩死亡成了女性的一大风险。而如果早点儿生产，婴儿的大脑和头部都还比较小，也比较柔软，这位母亲就更有机会渡过难关，未来也可能再生下更多孩子。于是，自然选择（natural selection，又译“天择”或“自然淘汰”）就让生产开始提前。与其他动物相较，人类可说都是早产儿，许多重要器官的发育都还不够完善。看看小马，出生没多久就能开始小跑步；小猫出生不过几周，也能离开母亲自行觅食。相较之下，人类的婴儿只能说没用得很，许多年都得当个啃老族来被抚养、保护和教育。14. 最早的人类是从大约250万年前的东非开始演化，祖先是一种更早的猿属“Australopithecus”（南方古猿）。大约200万年前，这些远古人类有一部分离开了家园而踏上旅程，足迹遍及北非、欧洲和亚洲的广大地带。北欧的森林白雪皑皑，印度尼西亚的热带丛林湿气蒸腾，想活命显然需要不同的特征，因此人类也开始朝着不同方向进化。于是人类发展出几个不同的物种，而科学家也为每一种都取了华丽的拉丁名称。 在欧洲和西亚的人类成了“Homo neanderthalensis”，意为“来自尼安德谷（Neander Valley）的人”，一般简称为“尼安德特人”（Neanderthals）。比起我们这种“智人”，尼安德特人更为魁梧，肌肉也更发达，非常适应西方的欧亚大陆在冰河时期的寒冷气候。至于在东方的亚洲，住的则是“Homo erectus”（直立人），一共存续了将近200万年，是目前所知存续最久的人类物种，而我们智人看来也很难打破这项纪录。光是1000年后还会不会有智人存在，现在看来都令人十分怀疑，所以和200万年比起来，我们真的是小巫见大巫。 至于在印度尼西亚的爪哇岛，则住着“Homo soloensis”（梭罗人，拉丁文意为“来自梭罗谷的人”），这种人很能适应热带的生活环境。同样在印度尼西亚，还有另一个小岛弗洛里斯（Flores），这里住的远古人类则是经历了一场侏儒化的过程。曾有一段时间，因为海水水位格外低，于是人类初次抵达了弗洛里斯，而且当时和大陆的交通往来十分便利。但后来海水再次上涨，于是有些人就被困在岛上，物资十分缺乏。那些长得高头大马的人，需要的食物也多，于是最早在岛上饿死淘汰。长得矮反而成了生存优势。经过几代之后，在弗洛里斯的人都成了小矮人。科学家把这种独特的人种称为“Homo floresiensis”（弗洛里斯人），身高最高不过1米，体重最重也不过25公斤。然而，他们仍然懂得如何制造石器，甚至偶尔还能在岛上猎象。不过倒也公平，在这岛上的象也是一种矮生种。 2010年，科学家在西伯利亚的丹尼索瓦（Denisova）洞穴中发现了一块已经变成化石的手指骨，为人类的大家族又添一种成员。手指骨的基因分析证实这个人种过去并不为人知，现在则命名为“Homo denisova”（丹尼索瓦人）。全球还有太多洞穴、岛屿、气候，谁晓得还有多少我们失落的亲戚，正等着我们去发现。 这几个人种在欧洲和亚洲不断演化的同时，其他在东非的人种演化也没有停止，人类的摇篮继续养育着许多新品种，例如“Homo rudolfensis”（鲁道夫人，“来自鲁道夫湖的人”）、“Homo ergaster”（匠人，“工作的人”），最后还有我们自己的这种人种，而我们也颇为厚颜地把自己命名为“Homo sapiens”（智人，“明智的人”）。 在这些人种当中，有些高大，有些矮小，有些会凶残地猎捕，有些只是温和地采集着食物，有些只住在某个小岛上，而大多是在整个大陆上迁徙移动；但不论如何，他们都是“人属”，也都是人类。15. 至于智人，也是属于某个科。虽然这件事看来再平凡不过，却曾经是整个历史上最大的秘密。智人一直希望自己和其他动物有所不同，仿佛整个科就只有自己的存在，没有兄弟姐妹，没有远近亲戚，而且最重要的是：没有父母。但可惜这绝非事实。不论你是否接受，我们所属的人科不仅成员众多，而且还特别吵闹，那就是一堆巨猿。与我们最相近的亲戚，就是黑猩猩、大猩猩和猩猩。其中，黑猩猩与我们最为接近。不过就在6万年前，有一头母猿产下两个女儿，一头成了所有黑猩猩的祖先，另一头则成了所有人类的祖奶奶。16. 大约7万年前，一些属于“智人”（Homo sapiens）这一物种的生物，开始创造出更复杂的架构，称为“文化”。而这些人类文化继续发展，就成了“历史学”。 在历史的路上，有三大重要革命：大约7万年前，“认知革命”（Cognitive Revolution）让历史正式启动。大约12000年前，“农业革命”（Agricultural Revolution）让历史加速发展。而到了大约不过是500年前，“科学革命”（Scientific Revolution）可以说是让历史画下句点而另创新局。这本书的内容，讲述的就是这三大革命如何改变了人类和其他生物。17. 大约7万年前，智人从东非扩张到阿拉伯半岛，并且很快席卷整个欧亚大陆。《第三种黑猩猩 : 人类的身世与未来》1. 讨论人类演化，得先对地球生命史的轮廓，有正确的认识。生命在地球上，几十亿年前就出现了；恐龙大约在6500万年前灭绝。我们的祖先，大约在600万年到1000万年之间才与黑猩猩、大猩猩分家，走上独立的演化道路。因此，人类的自然史只是地球生命史上的一小节，微不足道。科幻影片有时出现史前人类逃避恐龙的情节，那是地道的科幻，根本与事实不符。2. 以黑猩猩做医学实验，既没征求它们同意，实验有时还有致命风险，可是没有人认为这有什么问题。换了人，就不可以。而以黑猩猩做实验，正是因为它们与人在遗传上非常相似。它们会感染许多人类的疾病，它们的身体对病媒的反应也与人相似。因此，以黑猩猩做实验，比用其他动物更能得到有用的资料，增进人类的医疗福利。 这一伦理抉择，引发的问题更棘手，把猩猩关进动物笼子里，相形之下，还不算什么。因为我们将成千上万的人类罪犯关进牢里，已是例行公事。可是动物医学实验却没有“人类版本”。我们不是不知道：在人类身上做致命的实验，能得到更有价值的资料，用黑猩猩怎么也得不到。然而纳粹集中营医师以人类做实验，却受到各界的批评，认为是纳粹暴行中最可怕的罪行。为什么黑猩猩就可以？3. 我们认为动物（包括猿）与人之间，有根本的分别，我们的伦理规范与行为以这个分别为准则。举例来说（我在本章开宗明义，已经提过），我们可以将猩猩关进动物园的笼子里，公开展览，可是不能那么对待人。我常常想，要是动物园黑猩猩的笼子边上，分类名牌上注明的是“人属”的话，观众会有什么感受。然而，要不是公众在动物园里油然生出对猩猩的同情，保护野生猩猩的募款活动，也许不会得到热烈的社会响应。4. 人、大猩猩与黑猩猩的关系。如图1所显示的，人类与两种黑猩猩，有1.6%的遗传差异，相同的基因达98.4%。大猩猩的差异较大，与人或黑猩猩的差异是2.3%。5. “世界末日近了，悔改吧！”这样的预言并不新鲜，新鲜的是这个预言现在可能成真，理由有二：第一，核武器让我们有能力快速消灭自己；过去的人没有这种武器。第二，地球生产净值（地球捕获的太阳能净值）中，人类的消费额达40%。现在世界人口每41年增加一倍，我们很快就会面临成长的生物界限。到时候，我们为了争夺有限的资源，不得不作殊死斗争。此外，以我们现在消灭其他物种的速率而言，到了下一世纪，世界上大多数物种都会灭绝或濒于绝种，但我们得依赖许多其他物种才能生存。