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Re: "fixed level of tribalism?"
TB — (archived)

It's possible. I have discussed in the past my theory that there is a certain amount of tribalism hard-wired into the human species down from its primate sources. A natural instinct to be either the leader or one of the led, and collect into tribal groups constructed around that sort of hierarchy.

Intelligence and reason, on the other hand, are processes that function best in a less-restricted environment, on a more individualistic basis. Intelligence thrives under free cooperation, but does not work very well under coercion and tribal restrictions.

I have theorized that the natural tension between these two inherently incompatible evolved human traits (evolution being a haphazard affair at best) is where much of human strife and cultural adaptations to deal with the strife have originated.

Look at how easily human societies seem to "snap" into authoritarianism and totalitarianism. Keeping a free society stable is like keeping an acetylene molecule in one piece. This might be the true meaning of being "between the angel and the ape."

I wonder how things would have been if intelligence had evolved in a more solitary, non-tribal species, like the orangutan.

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