

Christopher Ryan on the price of civilization | Living Mirrors #49
8 snips Apr 28, 2021
Christopher Ryan, bestselling author and psychologist known for "Sex at Dawn" and "Civilized to Death," shares eye-opening insights about civilization's downsides. He discusses how modern society often misrepresents happiness, contrasting it with the fulfilling lives of hunter-gatherers. Ryan highlights the paradox of a scarcity mindset in affluent cultures and critiques societal delusions around mental health. He emphasizes the importance of integrating ancient wisdom into contemporary living for better sustainability and emotional well-being.
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Rejecting Civilization
- Indigenous people from Tierra del Fuego were taken to England to be indoctrinated into British life.
- Upon returning, they immediately reverted to their former lifestyle, rejecting the imposed "benefits" of civilization.
Feathered Arrows
- After filming indigenous people in Papua New Guinea, filmmaker Johnny Hughes brought some to England.
- Despite experiencing modern life, they only wanted to adopt feathered arrows, demonstrating a preference for their own culture.
Abundance vs. Scarcity
- Hunter-gatherers, despite having fewer possessions, live with an assumption of abundance.
- Agricultural societies, despite material wealth, operate under an assumption of scarcity, driven by a need to control nature.