CHAPTER XIII - How can we use the insights on how the brain works to correct the gross dysfunctionalities of human societies.
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There are indeed significant differences between how the brain works and how the educated elite steer our societies. The most fundamental of these is that, whereas human societies are a very recent invention, the brain's role determining the organism's actions has gone for millions of years of Evolution through the most powerful optimization process. Consequently, whereas neurons limit themselves to strictly implementing those actions, which yield the greatest benefit to the whole; the individuals at the upper levels of human societies always behave themselves according to what fits their very own , particular interests best. There is certainly no basis to sustain that neurons are any bit less self-centered than human beings - basically, all living beings need to keep their very own wellbeing front and center or they will not survive -; but Evolution 'taught' neurons (so to speak) that precisely the success of the entire organism is any neuron's best survival strategy. This capital principle evidently applies to any association of living beings: At the macroscopic level, barbarian raiders will obviously be able to capture more booty, the more the sedentary communities they prey upon prosper. At the microscopic level, a parasitic pathogen's odds to survive will increase drastically, if the host it leeches off flourishes. Clearly no species would have had any chance to prevail, if its neurons did nothing but leeching off all the other cells in the organism. Throughout Evolution neurons had to adapt to ensure the organism's wellbeing, or the species would go extinct. If anybody feels like calling this principle into question, we only need to consider how human societies fare: In the same way that barbarian raiders digged their own grave, whenever they sacked the hell out of their sedentary victims, civilized societies take less to collapse, the more self-serving the ruling educated elite is.
A careful analysis of Nature reveals that a perfect equilibrium of competition an cooperation is the key for any complex system fitness and success. Clearly, if the various parts unite and cooperate towards a common goal, the system will be stronger. Yet, who or how is such goal going to be set? Evidently it is no good to pull in the same direction, if the goal is a bad one and all efforts are aimed towards a wrong target.
Thus, humanity works beautifully if there is a bit of inequality. A bit, just a bit, of inequality allows for leadership and brings some order to the society. However, as we see today, the society slowly becomes dangerously dysfunctional as inequality grows to the grotesque levels we observe now in our modern fake-democratic regimes.
As the present scientific brain model shows, humans follow the guidance of those stronger, more knowledgeable or - all in all - more powerful individuals, who we feel care for us. It is logical: if he or she loves you and wants the best for you, it only makes sense to learn from those more knowledgeable relatives and friends, and follow their advice. The danger is, however, that it will not be long before those at the top will (consciously or unconsciously) learn, that they only have to express some love, in order to get their social lessers to do as they say. Have you noticed how these days people is constantly saying how much they love and care for you? Still, if the social betters made it to the top because of their own merits, it is not that much of a threat; after all his or her success speak for their better knowledge. However, as inequality grows and the society gets stratified, it will be most often the case that the social better's only merit is to have been born to a wealthy family. It is then rather unlikely that he or she will feel any true emotional attachment to his or her social lessers, with whom they have never really intermingled. We can so see that in our modern grotesquely unbalanced societies - even though the political leaders are democratically elected - the System's bedrock policies are completely aimed at serving the interests of the upper class: Indeed, contrary to any logic, the most wealthy are not prosecuted for skipping paying taxes, the courts systematically rule in favor of those litigants wealthy enough to hire a powerful attorney, the offsprings of the most wealthy families enjoy a decided advantage to join the leading schools, etc.. It is not that the upper-class dominated Media manipulates the people to vote those politicians, who favor the upper class, instead of those who go against it; but that every politician knows he or she will be dragged through the mud by the upper-class dominated Media, if he or she ever dares to defy the System's unjust bedrock policies. Since mass-Media owns the best information and always shows so much care for the people, the bulk of the society will trust its assessment of which policies are good for the nation and which are not. Furthermore, every journalist knows well that if he or she ever dares to express any opinion against the rights, freedoms and privileges alike of the upper class, there will not be many other opportunities to say anything more on the air. Likewise, if any judge ever dares to call into question the dictate of the powerful attorney, he or she knows well there will not be many other opportunities to call any more shots in the future. To make a long story short, in a grotesquely unbalanced society, there is a single right way of thinking.
Yet, if the upper class enjoys all the advantages, it is mathematical that there will be even more inequality in the next generation and - needless to say - the bigger the inequality, the more difficult it is for the lower-class folks to rise and the easier it is for upper-class people to stay on top. Worst of all, in a grotesquely unbalanced society, neither the lower class folks think for themselves anymore - since it only makes sense to follow the guidance of those lovely and loving, most successful upper-class individuals, who know everything best -, nor do the upper-class people try anything new, since why would anyone want to rack his or her brain over anything, if you can just indulge yourself in the pleasures of life? In other words, inequality feeds itself and, as it grows, the functioning of the society gets ever worse.
Yes, the study of the brain provides excellent insight on how to correct the gross dysfunctionalities of human societies, in that the brain constitutes a wonderful model of how populations of trillions of self-serving units may be able to come and work together in harmonious pursuit of everyone's benefit. Hence, if it makes any sense to you, please, share the link with the people you care for.
To be updated.
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