Charles Darwin speculated that music is closely related to mating, much like how it’s believed that other animals bellow out their songs to attract mates. However, Michael Spitzer suggests that these may be over-sexualised ideas, and puts forth that music is ‘simply’ a language designed to communicate with other members of our species; animals don’t just sing with the intention of finding a partner, but sing to promote any kind of social bonding. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
