Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human Values Evolve

Mon, Jul 13 2015 - 6:00pm

Ian Morris, Jean and Rebecca Willard Professor of Classics and Professor of History, Stanford University; Author, Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human Values Evolve

Monday Night Philosophy explains why most people in the world today think democracy and gender equality are good, and violence and wealth inequality are bad, even though most people who lived before the 19th century thought just the opposite. Professor Morris argues that fundamental long-term changes in values are driven by the pursuit of energy, which humans have drawn from foraging, farming and fossil fuels. In forager bands, people who value equality, but are ready to settle problems violently do better. In farming societies, people who value hierarchy but are less willing to use violence do better. In fossil-fuel societies, equality is back but violence remains unacceptable. However, our ongoing revolution in energy capture could mean that our most cherished values could fundamentally change once again.