Lily Cole Asks Yuval Noah Harari

TL;DR

The first evidence of large-scale conflict dates back 13,000 years, coordinated with the advent of agriculture. While the world is currently experiencing relative peace, it is important for us to be responsible and maintain the global order.

Transcript

i'm a huge fan of the book sapiens by yuval harari and looking forward to seeing this edition was there a time in which humans were much more cooperative and there isn't evidence of large-scale war and if so how do we get back there thank you hey lily thanks for this um actually there is no evidence for war from most of the stone age the first evid... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫤 Large-scale conflict only emerged around 13,000 years ago during the agricultural revolution.
• 🥳 While war still exists in some parts of the world, overall, it kills fewer people than other causes like car accidents or obesity-related illnesses.
• 🌍 The level of violence in the world is not dictated by nature; it depends on the decisions humans make.
• ↩️ Despite the current era of relative peace, negligence and deliberate undermining of the global order could lead to a collapse and a return to constant war.
• ✌️ The global order, like a neglected house, requires maintenance and strengthening to sustain peace.
• ↩️ If we return to a state of constant war, concerns about gunpowder will outweigh concerns about sugar.
• 🍔 Recognizing progress does not mean we should become complacent but rather urges us to be more responsible and proactive.

Questions & Answers

Q: Is there evidence of large-scale war before the agricultural revolution?

No, there is no evidence of war from most of the Stone Age. The first evidence for large-scale conflict is from around 13,000 years ago, prior to the agricultural revolution.

Q: Why can't we go back to living as Stone Age hunter-gatherers?

Going back to the Stone Age is not feasible because the Earth supported only around 8 million people back then, while today we have 8 billion people. Going back to that population size would result in widespread starvation.

Q: Are we currently living in a peaceful and cooperative time?

Yes, relatively speaking. Despite conflicts in certain regions, overall, war kills fewer people than other causes like car accidents or obesity-related illnesses. However, this doesn't mean things are perfect.

Q: What is the significance of realizing how much progress we have made?

Realizing how far we have come in terms of peace and cooperation should not lead to complacency. It underscores the importance of being responsible and making decisions that strengthen the global order that preserves peace.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The first evidence of large-scale conflict is from 13,000 years ago, coinciding with the agricultural revolution.

• Today, there are still wars happening in some parts of the world, but overall, war kills fewer people than car accidents or obesity-related illnesses.

• While things are better than ever, we must not become complacent and irresponsible in our decisions.