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Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels

How Human Values Evolve
By Ian Morris
Series: The University Center for Human Values Series
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels, Ian Morris explores how energy capture methods shape human values across history. He examines how societies transitioned from the lifestyles of foragers to farmers and eventually to those reliant on fossil fuels, analysing the impact these shifts have on our moral systems and societies. The book delves into the intertwined evolution of economy and culture, providing philosophical insights into human progress and development.
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Format: Hardback
$8499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by how social development, energy capture, and ethical values have shaped human societies. Ian Morris delves into the evolution of economies from foraging to farming and fossil fuel exploitation, offering a fascinating glimpse into how these shifts influence our worldviews and societal norms. This thought-provoking exploration bridges history, philosophy, and psychology, appealing to those curious about the forces driving human progress.

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Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels

Most people in the world today think democracy and gender equality are good, and that violence and wealth inequality are bad. But most people who lived during the 10,000 years before the nineteenth century thought just the opposite. Drawing on archaeology, anthropology, biology, and history, Ian Morris explains why. Fundamental long-term changes in

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Most people in the world today think democracy and gender equality are good, and that violence and wealth inequality are bad. However, most people who lived during the 10,000 years before the nineteenth century thought just the opposite. Drawing on archaeology, anthropology, biology, and history, Ian Morris explains why.

Fundamental long-term changes in values, Morris argues, are driven by the most basic force of all: energy. Humans have found three main ways to get the energy they needβ€”from foraging, farming, and fossil fuels. Each energy source sets strict limits on what kinds of societies can succeed, and each kind of society rewards specific values.

But if our fossil-fuel world favours democratic, open societies, the ongoing revolution in energy capture means that our most cherished values are very likely to turn out not to be useful any more. Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels offers a compelling new argument about the evolution of human values, one that has far-reaching implications for how we understand the pastβ€”and for what might happen next.

Originating as the Tanner Lectures delivered at Princeton University, the book includes challenging responses by classicist Richard Seaford, historian of China Jonathan Spence, philosopher Christine Korsgaard, and novelist Margaret Atwood.

Series: The University Center for Human Values Series

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels by Ian Morris is praised for being thought-provoking and offering a bold hypothesis that benefits the field of scientific history. The book provides a provocative explanation of the evolution and divergence of ethical values, making it an engaging intellectual journey in the hands of a skilled writer. It's noted as both a good and enjoyable read and is described as stimulating by various reviewers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780691160399

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 22 March 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Princeton University Press

Illustration: 4 Maps

Contributors:

  • Edited by Stephen Macedo
  • Introduction by Stephen Macedo
  • Commentaries by Richard Seaford
  • Commentaries by Jonathan D. Spence
  • Commentaries by Christine M. Korsgaard
  • Commentaries by Margaret Atwood

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 539g

Pages: 400

Collections

Education & Reference Global History History & Military Ian Morris Non-Fiction Philosophy & Psychology Philosophy & Stoicism Series: The University Center for Human Values Series

About the Author

Ian Morris is professor of classics and a fellow of the Stanford Archaeology Center at Stanford University.

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