Tribal Society

 

I was thinking that history may aid us in favoring individualism over collectivism.

 

When I grew up in the 70s, we thought of the pre-historical tribal culture, perhaps 100,00 years old as a natural utopia for noble savages, leading lives of communal ownership, plenty, ease, cooperation, peace and sharing.

 

It would seem, in the 5,000 years of individualism, or as glimmers of it begin to momentarily erupt, that technology and innovation grew as individualism grew.

 

How about moral advancement? I just read last year that some expert noted that the rate of murder and violent death (likely inter-tribal rivalry and war) among ancient peoples were many times the rate today.

 

I think Jordan Peterson was the source of this last tidbit, which, if proven, would indicate the rise of individualism over the millennia leads not only to technological advancement and increased knowledge, but to moral progress to, leading to democracy, constitutional republicanism and advancing to high civilization.