Many articles argue that human societies look a lot like ant colonies. Ants have a caste system which is similar to our job specialization. “The typical colony consists of one or more egg-laying queens, numerous sterile females (workers, soldiers) and, seasonally, many winged sexual males and females.” (Wiki)
There are much more ants than humans: one million billion ants versus nearly eight billion humans. Is it possible that those egalitarian ant colonies prevent them from (human) stupidity?
A 2022 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that Ant colonies behave like neural networks when making decisions: “It is almost as if the colony of ants has a greater, collective mind. A new study suggests that indeed, ants as a group behave similar to networks of neurons in a brain.”
The ant combination of egalitarianism and collective decision-making seems to be logical and rational (my recent blog). Do ants have emotions, like humans? BBC Science Focus: “Ants don’t have complex emotions such as love, anger, or empathy []. Some have speculated that a whole colony could have feelings.”
In theory, human collective decision-making could indeed be a solution against our stupidity However, that would first and foremost require egalitarianism. To most human societies, that is an alien concept.
The above might also be the reason why Needs, Wants & Beliefs are collective stages in our development, while an Awakening and Wisdom are individual stages. A collective Awakening may require egalitarianism and collective decision-making. Collective Wisdom seems like an imaginary utopia.
If human emotions (ie, against egalitarianism and collective decision-making) prevent a solution for human stupidity, would humanoid sapiens be a solution? Possibly but doubtful. Technology is often only about harder, better, faster & stronger.
Humans are individual social creatures, which sounds like another oxymoron. At the moment of writing this, there is a local festival that I have deliberately ignored. I do not like collectives or large groups because these prevent me from being me: a thinker and a writer. Socializing is not one of my talents.
As already argued in my August 4 blog, human stupidity is like a Great Filter in our society.
This blog argues that there is a solution to overcome collective stupidity, being egalitarianism and collective decision-making.
Human emotions will, however, prevent such a solution.
Believing in Me Myself & I (see song below), makes me part of the obstacle to that solution.
No wonder Albert Einstein (1879-1955) stated:
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe!
Me Myself I (1980) Joan Armatrading
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-album, Wiki-song
I sit here by myself
And you know I love it
You know I don’t want someone
To come pay a visit
I wanna be by myself
I came in this world alone
Me myself I
Note 1: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
Note 2: this blog is a follow-up on the thoughts expressed in my Introduction to last Sunday’s blog
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