How would a cute little dog with a fluffy tail feel if it came face to face with a lean and powerful wolf?
How would you feel if you came face to face with a spear-carrying human who was stronger, smarter and faster than you?
I was reading a book about the early history of mankind’s evolution. It said that, based on estimates of the skulls of hunter-gatherer humans from 30,000 years ago, those early humans had brains which were 10 to 14 per cent larger than our modern brains. Based on analysis of ancient footprints preserved in rock, those early humans could run faster than modern athletes.
In other words, we are the human equivalent of cute little dogs with fluffy tails, in comparison to our wolf ancestors.
Any group of animals which is domesticated – kept on a farm or in a house and looked after by humans – will experience the same phenomenon. Their brains will shrink, and they will become less powerful and able to defend themselves. For farm animals, of course, they will get fatter and more docile as the farmers select the animals which are the easiest to look after and which produce the most meat.
Have humans domesticated themselves like farm animals? A tiny group of humans called “the government” looks after the rest of us. It is easier for them if we are docile and stupid.So they give us beer and tv shows. And we wag our cute little tails happily.
Vocabulary:
lean–without any unnecessary fat; thin but fit and strong
a spear – a weapon with a sharp point on the end of a long pole
an estimate – a guess based on good evidence
analysis – detailed examination of something
an equivalent–something which is the same in some way, such as value or function
to shrink – to get smaller
docile – ready to accept control or instruction; not rebellious
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