The authors book Human Kind (Rutger Bregman) argues that we have developed a pessimistic view of ourselves - and the vast majority of humans are basically decent people.
It’s got a lot of similar stories, where he revisits historical events and science experiments that have been used to paint humans as feral animals - and manages to debunk them, or at least expose the fragility of that argument.
He suggests that Survival of the Fittest is also a flawed concept - and that humans have succeeded because of superior collaboration and cooperation.
Review (and better synopsis) here - but it’s a heart warming read.
I think being stuck on an island with resources makes you work together, if it was a life or death apocalyptic scenario, I can see how selfishness and self preservation would prevail.
Repeatedly history has shown that in dire circumstances, we help each other. Across time and cultures, in times of need, people get less selfish. When a natural disaster hits, or when a terrorist attack happens, people open their doors and pull out the spare mattresses and share food and clothing and volunteer to help and start patrolling the streets, even risking their own lives while doing so.
It’s a well studied effect, and when you think about it for more than 5 seconds, we are a social animal first and foremost so of course “reverting back to out instincts” means building communities and helping others. Civilization makes us more selfish, not the other way around.
Reality makes for terrible fiction though because most fiction is written through the lens of character conflict (especially in Hollywood) and “people help each other but some people die anyway from lack of resources or zombie attacke” is boring, so we have been “taught” to expect the opposite of what actually happens when shit hits the fan (actually I’d love a TV show to delve into that, like TLoU kinda did, but Hollywood is notoriously terrible at writing socio-cultural commentary).
It’s possible to give examples of the terrible things people do when faced with difficult situations too. Human nature is kind of a duality in this aspect.
Then there was the time they tried doing a reality show with just kids, and they shut it down in a day cause it became Lord of the flies and the kids turned into little psychos
There was only one obstacle. None of them owned a boat, so they decided to “borrow” one from Mr Taniela Uhila, a fisherman they all disliked.
…
But this wasn’t the end of the boys’ little adventure, because, when they arrived back in Nuku‘alofa police boarded Peter’s boat, arrested the boys and threw them in jail. Mr Taniela Uhila, whose sailing boat the boys had “borrowed” 15 months earlier, was still furious, and he’d decided to press charges.
When Lord of the Flies happened in real life, everyone was nice to each and they survived
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/09/the-real-lord-of-the-flies-what-happened-when-six-boys-were-shipwrecked-for-15-months
That’s amazing. They continuously maintained a fire, set up a farm of chickens and grown produce, and even healed another kids leg.
What a great read…thanks for sharing the link.
Glad i had the chance to share it !
The authors book Human Kind (Rutger Bregman) argues that we have developed a pessimistic view of ourselves - and the vast majority of humans are basically decent people.
It’s got a lot of similar stories, where he revisits historical events and science experiments that have been used to paint humans as feral animals - and manages to debunk them, or at least expose the fragility of that argument.
He suggests that Survival of the Fittest is also a flawed concept - and that humans have succeeded because of superior collaboration and cooperation.
Review (and better synopsis) here - but it’s a heart warming read.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/12/humankind-a-hopeful-history-by-rutger-bregman-review
But survival of the fittest is the basis of capitalism. How ever could we reconcile that!?
Smash capitalism, obv
I think being stuck on an island with resources makes you work together, if it was a life or death apocalyptic scenario, I can see how selfishness and self preservation would prevail.
“Survival of the fittest” is a pop sci misinterpretation of On The Origin of Species. It’s flawed because it’s some made up shit.
Sample size too small
it has the advantage of not being a work of fiction.
Repeatedly history has shown that in dire circumstances, we help each other. Across time and cultures, in times of need, people get less selfish. When a natural disaster hits, or when a terrorist attack happens, people open their doors and pull out the spare mattresses and share food and clothing and volunteer to help and start patrolling the streets, even risking their own lives while doing so.
It’s a well studied effect, and when you think about it for more than 5 seconds, we are a social animal first and foremost so of course “reverting back to out instincts” means building communities and helping others. Civilization makes us more selfish, not the other way around.
Reality makes for terrible fiction though because most fiction is written through the lens of character conflict (especially in Hollywood) and “people help each other but some people die anyway from lack of resources or zombie attacke” is boring, so we have been “taught” to expect the opposite of what actually happens when shit hits the fan (actually I’d love a TV show to delve into that, like TLoU kinda did, but Hollywood is notoriously terrible at writing socio-cultural commentary).
It’s possible to give examples of the terrible things people do when faced with difficult situations too. Human nature is kind of a duality in this aspect.
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Like survivor but with teens?
This was great. Thanks for the article
This article sucked me in. What a great read
Look up his book ! Lots more of same. See my other reply
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/12/humankind-a-hopeful-history-by-rutger-bregman-review
I came to the comments hoping someone would say this.
Then there was the time they tried doing a reality show with just kids, and they shut it down in a day cause it became Lord of the flies and the kids turned into little psychos
Kid Nation did a full season.
Damn you, Mr Taniela Uhila