katta_sambola

  In a time and a world where embracing rhetorics is far more satisfactory and appealing than the effort for critical investigation, I thought of sharing this interview with Dr. Thomas Sowell (American economist, social philosopher, and political commentator/a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, USA) on his book titled 'Intellectuals and Society (2009)'. It examines the role and influence of intellectuals in shaping societal beliefs and policies. Sowell argues that intellectuals often operate within a framework of ideas detached from practical realities, which can lead to harmful social and economic consequences, emphasizing the need for a more pragmatic approach to policy and decision-making that considers real-world outcomes rather than abstract theories. YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/ERj3QeGw9Ok?si=fqbXilAlg2KbDsq8

“Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But  I will come to the dream later. I have something else to say first. I do not think,  comrades, that I shall be with you for many months longer, and before I die, I feel it  my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired. I have had a long life, I  have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall, and I think I may say that I  understand the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living. It is about  this that I wish to speak to you. “Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are  miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will  keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work  to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to  an end we are slaughtered with hideous cru...

The Agricultural Revolution The Agricultural Revolution (12,000 years ago) marked an important chapter in the evolution of Homo sapiens. In fact, it is identified as the most significant, out of the revolutions. One key phenomenon was the domestication of animals (although this is secondary to the domestication of wheat and vice versa). What interests me is ‘how’ this was achieved.  The multi-million copy bestseller ‘Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind’ by Prof. Yuval Noah Harai provides a much-needed insight. Nomadic bands stalked wild sheep gradually altering the constitutions of the herds. Humans developed skills in selective hunting to suit their needs. Careful selection of the most aggressive unruly sheep most resistant to human control were slaughtered first.  The skinny ones with curiosity were slaughtered too. Apparently, the shepherds are not fond of such curious sheep who would break away and wander far from their herd. The most submissive and appealing on...