An introduction to anthropology

Here is the first of a series of presentations by Alan Macfarlane on the topic of anthropology. I got interested in this topic due to the connection with Noble Ape and thinking about trying to simulate tribal cultures. Also it's difficult to understand the peculiar features of human cognition without also learning something about the environmental and social pressures which generated it.



If you believe that technology will eventually largely eliminate material scarcity it's interesting to note that some of the primitive tribal societies were living in a post-scarcity type of environment, below the carrying capacity of the environment. The future to some extent may come to resemble the past, with a greater emphasis upon reciprocity, gifting and individualistic status seeking. Post-scarcity is already well on the way to being achieved within the realms of software and music.