Why we love tyrants
I’ve always wondered how some leaders can sway people to do things rational thought would exclude, for example how Hitler managed to convince ordinary Germans that Jews must be exterminated. Would I fall for such a message? Have I?
The article below looks at the psychology used in these type of speeches. It seems to boil down to three steps:
- We are mightily suffering: _____________,
- and that is the fault of ____________, who is our enemy.
- The magic solution to this is ___________.
It’s scary how something this simple can work so well. And it’s even scarier how it is being used today.
Why we love tyrants
Psychoanalysis explains how authoritarians energise the hatred, self-pity and delusion while promising heaven on Earth
Plough/hoe past influences attitudes towards women now
Interesting theory — deep-seated attitudes to women have roots in ancient agriculture. From The Economist, July 23rd, 2011:
Economics focus: The plough and the now
Easter Island’s End
One of my favorite essays by Jared Diamond on societal collapse on Easter Island. From Discover magazine, August 1, 1995:
Easter’s End
In just a few centuries, the people of Easter Island wiped out their forest, drove their plants and animals to extinction, and saw their complex society spiral into chaos and cannibalism. Are we about to follow their lead?
by Jared Diamond
Jared Diamond on the environment
An essay by Jared Diamond, from Time magazine, August 26, 2oo2:
Lessons from Lost Worlds
The Oily Americans
Oldie, but a gives a good idea of how the United States meddled in the Middle East. Things haven’t changed, have they?
From Time magazine, Monday, May. 19, 2003:
The Oily Americans
By Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele
Origins of money
10.01.1998
Pragma Synesi - interesting bits 