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Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels summary
How Human Values Evolve
22 mins
Brief summary
Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels by Ian Morris compares the rise of societies from foragers to farmers and eventually to fossil fuel-based economies, exploring how energy sources shaped civilization and its history.
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Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels
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Our values may have evolved in line with our methods of energy capture.
In 1982, the author and his colleagues were working at an archaeological dig site in rural Greece. One evening, an old Greek husband and wife passed by. The husband was riding a donkey, while the wife was on foot carrying a heavy sack. One of the author’s colleagues asked the husband, “Why isn’t your wife riding the donkey?” The husband replied simply, “She doesn’t have one.”
To modern Western adults, this apparent scene of selfishness might seem unthinkable. But why exactly are most Westerners so averse to gender hierarchies like this one, not to mention other kinds of hierarchies? Are they simply more in tune with the notions of fairness and equality?
The real answer may lie in a more practical phenomenon: the way we capture energy.
The key message here is: Our values may have evolved in line with our methods of energy capture.
Over the years, many people have attempted to understand human values. But not quite so many have attempted to explain our values – that is, why we value what we do.
The author’s theory is that our values evolve – in much the same way that our genes do.
We all know evolution’s basic premise: that organisms with genes most suited to their environment will pass those genes along, perpetuating beneficial traits. Over millions of years, this can result in major changes to the original organism.
Similarly, human values that suit a particular environment will allow a society to flourish, whereas a society with mismatched or outdated values won’t last long. This will lead certain values to dominate and others to die out.
And what force dictates which values stand the test of time? In a word, energy, or more accurately, energy capture. This term defines the process of obtaining or deriving units of food energy – kilocalories – from our environment. Different methods of energy capture work best alongside different values and ways of organizing society.
We can see this in action in our example of the Greek farmer. He probably wasn’t hogging the donkey just because he was a jerk – he may just have been operating according to the hierarchical values of farming societies. Similarly, fossil-fuel users don’t champion gender equality and democracy because we’re saints, but because those values work best in fossil fuel-based societies.
How did this all play out for the earliest human societies? Let’s find out.
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What is Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels about?
Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels (2015) argues that the values we hold most dear stem from one fundamental source: energy. While anthropologists have spent centuries attempting to understand differences between cultures, few have attempted to explain those differences. These blinks do just that.
Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels Review
Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels (2015) explores the impact of energy transitions on the rise and fall of civilizations throughout history. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a fascinating analysis of how different energy sources shaped the trajectory of human societies, from foraging to farming to our current fossil fuel era.
- The book provides compelling evidence that energy transitions have played a crucial role in determining the success or failure of civilizations, offering valuable insights into our own future.
- With its accessible language and engaging storytelling, the book manages to make history and energy theory accessible and captivating, making it anything but boring.
Best quote from Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels
Each age gets the thought it needs.
—Ian Morris
Who should read Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels?
- History and philosophy enthusiasts
- Futurists wondering how and why our values and ethical concerns may soon change
- Anyone curious about how moral systems work
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Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels FAQs
What is the main message of Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels?
The main message of Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels is the importance of energy in shaping human societies throughout history.
How long does it take to read Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels?
The estimated reading time for Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels is several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels a good book? Is it worth reading?
Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels is worth reading because it offers a fascinating exploration of how energy has driven human progress and shaped our world.
Who is the author of Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels?
The author of Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels is Ian Morris.
What to read after Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels?
If you're wondering what to read next after Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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