“Inequality Dates Back to Stone Age”
Wow. Just when you think “science” (and in this case I use the term loosely) can’t sink any lower. While the specific findings cited in the article are interesting, the focus on “wealth inequality” is simply stupid.
In the natural world, there has never been equality of any kind. The stronger, faster and/or smarter survive and thrive. It is no wonder that early humans did the same, especially given that their ancestors were hunter/gatherers.
In fact, it remains to be seen how harmful our current ideas of “equality” (and a few other things) actually are. The most successful generally limit family size, while the uneducated, poor and dependent have large families. We artificially extend the life of the medically unfit, who often reproduce as well. Essentially, we are artificially permitting the more unfit out outbreed the fit. That seems like a recipe for long-term disaster to me.
Sorry, still early.
We need an affirmative action program to make sure that smaller bucks get to mate as often as the strongest bucks.
Likewise in Africa - why should the beachmaster male hippos get all the females?
Life is just so unfair, we need government programs to deal with it. And more grants to study what should be done. And of course, we have to shoot those who engage in such unfair behavior.
Funny how the same people who observe a pack of wolves never question the existence of an alpha male in the pack, but won't accept that some humans do better than others and should reap the rewards of that.
Equality in opportunity is a new enough concept, but equality in outcome is downright unnatural. Anyone who has raised kids and tried to maintain a semblance of parity among them would recognize this.