Us Versus Them
Idea Lab - How Are Humans Unique? - Intelligence - Evolution - Idea Lab - NYTimes.com This article basically says that one of the main reasons humans are unique is the cooperative group structure. This obviously has offered tremendous value to the evolution of our species, but, as the article says: "Of course, humans beings are not cooperating angels; they also put their heads together to do all kinds of heinous deeds. But such deeds are not usually done to those inside “the group.” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.” The remarkable human capacity for cooperation thus seems to have evolved mainly for interactions within the group. Such group-mindedness is a major cause of strife and suffering in the world today. The solution — more easily said than done — is to find new ways to define the group." Among ot