[extropy-chat] Human Machinations

[Russell Wallace]

On 2/20/06, Keith Henson <hkhenson at rogers.com> wrote:
>
> Huge research job.  And it probably is not the most important element
> anyway.  It is the average population *expectation* on how bright the
> prospects for the future are that flips the gain on xenophobic memes.  I
> first figured as you did, and the America civil war didn't fit, times were
> ok.  But when you considered the aftermath, it was clear that they had
> reason to fear for a bleak future.
>
> After Lincoln was elected, it was fairly clear that one way or the other
> slavery was going.  That was a $30 billion dollar hit on the south's
> "capital," and people could see it coming.  (Don't take this as advocating
> anything!)


But wasn't it the North that attacked the South? (Don't take this as
advocating anything either - I'm not commenting on the morality of it - but
from what I've read it was the northerners going "let's go stomp those
slave-owning southerners" not vice versa.)

I think we've explored this question about as far as is going to be feasible
here - to do the sort of detailed analysis required for a more rigorous test
would, as you say, be a huge research job. The approach of applying
evolutionary psychology makes sense, but to the extent the theory makes
predictions, those predictions don't seem to me to be borne out in real
history; though while encouraging economic growth through technological
advance isn't a silver bullet, it's certainly helpful.

- Russell
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