Naidu , Som (2018) To interact or not to interact is NOT the question! [Book, Journal, Proceedings Edited]
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Abstract
In tracing the history of humankind in his book Sapiens: A brief history of humankind, Yuval Noah Harari argues that it was the unique trait of Homo sapiens for group-think and their ability to work together that helped their dominance over other species on the planet over 70, 000 years ago. Other species had this ability as well. For example, buffaloes and elephants roam in herds for strength, and lions move as a pride. But it is the exceptional ability of Homo Sapiens to develop myths and ideologies and rally behind them, and do so collectively, that separated them from the rest of the species. Examples of this include the development of religious and political belief systems – entities that they had never seen, touched or smelt before (Harari, 2011, p. 27). As further attestation of this proposition, Harari argues that if we were to put a thousand chimpanzees in a public place, there is likely to be mayhem. But put a thousand Homo sapiens in the same place and give them a cause in which they can believe, they will learn to interact and cooperate in order to rally behind it. True, ants and bees can also work together and rally behind a task, but Hariri argues that they are able to do so only in small numbers. Homo sapiens are able to cooperate in much larger numbers and with folks with whom they have had no previous connections or relationships. So, what’s the point here?
| Item Type: | Book, Journal, Proceedings Edited |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education |
| Divisions: | Centre for Flexible Learning (CFL) |
| Depositing User: | Som Naidu |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Aug 2018 00:28 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Aug 2018 00:28 |
| URI: | http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10854 |
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