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Overcoming Bias Commenter's avatar

Our primate ancestor leaders were directly dominant, out of explicit self-interest. While top animals provided the useful function of keeping the peace among lower folk, they weren’t shy about using their position for personal advantage (e.g., food, mates) whenever possible. But limited communication abilities limited their dominance. Human tyrants use language to better coordinate to give orders and identify disobedience, and so can dominate more strongly.

Can I borrow your time machine?

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Robin Hanson's avatar

anon, you overestimate eagerness for and ease of a successful challenge. The existing coalition in power doesn't need much overt dominance to resist a challenge, as most folks' default is to let sleeping dogs lie. You have to motivate people to overcome inertia to support your challenge.

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