Going offline
I'm writing a book on the evolution of civilization
I have decided to go offline for a time to write a book on the evolution of civilization. Not because I’m in the position to write a book. I don’t expect to make any money from writing a book and I don’t expect my book to be published anywhere other than on my blog. I plan to write a book just because I can sense that the texts I’m working on are a book. That is, a series of texts that should be read in a certain sequence and that are linked to each other.
The project in question is to develop an evolutionary theory on the development of civilization. Most such theories have been Marxist-inspired and view social complexity as a function of technological development. Those theories are right to an extent, but they are too simple. They acknowledge subsistence as the only important evolutionary force. Anthropological research suggests that there is another important force as well: Mating effort. During history, men did not only compete and make war over opportunities to feed their children, but also over opportunities to have as many children as possible. In summary, prehistory was a much more dynamic and interesting period than the subsistence-based theories suggest.
When I first launched this theory almost three years ago, with an essay called Violent Enough To Stand Still, I was criticized for making too bold claims based on too little data. Although I think that also people who are not professional academics should be encouraged to voice ideas online, the criticism was technically right. Such a bold theory should be based on, or contradicted by, a lot more data. And I think that now is the time to dive into that data.
All input on this project will be highly appreciated. If anyone knows about any opportunity to get such a book published, please let me know.
Good luck from me! I am not sure I am going to like 100% of your book, but the fact is that you have quite independent non-mainstream thought, which I admire a lot. It is absolutely true that the modern science, academia, press, not to mention media - are all infected by Marxism, and recognizing this and trying to counter it at its very heart - the vision of mankind - is a BIG DEAL to me. You may create something wonderful, or not, but in either case you must do it, because this is what free thinking is about.
I remember when evening a few months ago, when 3000 km from you, a few friends of mine (some of them entrepreneurs, some of them professional archeologist and historians) spent a few hours discussing your ideas about the madness as a driver of the civilization. So you never know where your ideas go, bounce and ultimately seed something new.
Writers like Rousseau, Hobbes and Locke used stories about prehistory in their writing that weren’t really connected to much evidence at all. So even if there isn’t data to confirm or deny what you are writing, it can still be informative and insightful.