this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

Actual wolf packs are a family. One pair of adults plus their children. Until those are old enough, then they leave and search for a partner and own territory.

All the stuff you read about pack alphas, all the sociological pseudo-science about alpha behavior derived from it... that's all based on a one bullshit study about a large group of wolves artificially intoduced to a new area, that in no way behaved like wolves naturally do.

Basically the equivalent of putting a few dozen teen-age boys on an isolated island then studying their behavior to understand human society.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Are you implying that humans aren't prone to worshipping idols, tribalism, and interpersonal violence?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

Funny enough, not in the cynical, depressing way William Goulding postulated and many of us were forced to read in English class. :D

https://www.newsweek.com/real-lord-flies-true-story-boys-island-william-golding-humankind-human-nature-rutger-bregman-1503204

It's nice when humanity isn't the tragically disgusting thing we're often forcefully told it is. (Usually as some way to justify State-enforced law and order via violence.)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I was gonna say wasn't Lord of the Flies literally a critique of society?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Yeah, but a satirical one, not one to be taken literally.