Nobrainer’s Think Tank

This morning, Fark directed me to read “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race.”

The mistake, as the author argues, is the human shift to agriculture. Using historical evidence, he shows that humans surviving by early agricultural means were less healthy than their hunter/gatherer counterparts. Agriculture then allowed the development of cities. The cities then brought their own detriments to human health.

The above may well be true, but should that be considered the worst mistake in the history of the human race? To convince me, the author needs to show that agriculture was unnecessary for survival. In fact, he suggests the opposite. “The evidence suggests that the Indians at Dickson Mounds, like many other primitive peoples, took up farming not by choice but from necessity in order to feed their constantly growing numbers.” For the data provided, it seems to me that overpopulation was the mistake. Agriculture was the solution.

The truth is, I would not have even brought this up if it weren’t for these statements:

In particular, recent discoveries suggest that the adoption of agriculture, supposedly our most decisive step toward a better life, was in many ways a catastrophe from which we have never recovered. With agriculture came the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism, that curse our existence.

Besides malnutrition, starvation, and epidemic diseases, farming helped bring another curse upon humanity: deep class divisions.

If agriculture was such a huge mistake, what alternative approach should have been taken? Logically, population control was the more acceptable answer. Lowered birth rates would help. But if those rates held constant, the people would still collectively face malnutrition and starvation… unless the groups specifically thinned themselves out. What a great alternative.

With his logic already on shaky footing, to prove any point the reader must readily believe class differences are shameful and that total gender equality is desirable. Throw in some appreciation for living in tune with nature, and it all sounds a lot like liberal propaganda.

And that concludes today’s public service announcement.