Guest wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:54 am
I believe the below is a prime example of embracing tribal thinking as you describe it above (underlining mine). And right from your Polyticks thread, no less. Thanks for tolerating and shining a light on this.
Acknowledged. Agreed, the post you selected is a prime example.
I think I responded at the time by referencing Jared Diamond’s book
Guns Germs and Steel. He has Europe dominating China as Europe is very divided, naturally encourages more nations, more competition. They made better use of guns and steel, and had a disease immunity advantage which allowed them to dominate the Americas.
European dominance can be quite well explained without embracing tribal thinking.
https://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel ... 1565115147
Curiously, a long time ago it was proposed that the philosophies of the religious Tao was a significant factor. At one point, the Chinese had a vast trading fleet that could have put the profits of the eventual shipping revolution in Chinese hands. At the same time they could have confronted Mongolia, prevented their becoming the power they did. But the emperor of China at that time was Taoist. He saw a virtue of inaction, a reluctance to act, an acceptance of the status quo. No more fleets sailed. No confrontation with Mongolia.
I suspect this is what Diamond meant by Europe being more competitive and divided. One man with an odd philosophy could not blunt progress as much. If Columbus could not convince one king, he could go to another. If a new approach was better, then one of the nations of Europe would embrace it. The nations which stuck with the old ways faded.