The Flaw in Sapiens

A brief note on where we differ on one major conclusion

Harari seems convinced about changes in our climate and imminent catastrophe. To counter this assumed existential threat, in the book Harari sees no alternative other than to organize a world government.

by Yuval Noah Harari

Harari asks some good questions in the book. But I differ with him on several of his major conclusions. For instance, he seems convinced about changes in our climate and imminent catastrophe. To counter this assumed existential threat, in the book Harari sees no alternative other than to organize a world government.

It isn’t clear how Harari sees no alternative. (Harari wrote this book some time ago, he may have changed his view.)

For one, the tragedy of the commons is often brought up, in my view, to undercut the natural collaboration of which human beings are more than capable. Few other animals, if we want to speak crudely, work together across family, lineage, or larger groups.

In short, the tragedy of the commons is a demoralizing wrench. Throw the wrench into the assembly of an organic engine (people working together on hard problems, carefully, not crudely). An observer sees that this projectile diverts the collective and positive attention away from actively seeking solutions toward a kind of despair at the…