In addition to being unsubstantiated, the criticisms of Harari completely mischaracterize his position. The overriding point of the chapter on agriculture in Sapiens is that farming was a huge step back for humans compared to the hunter gatherer lifestyle.
I suspect the the authors of this piece really object to Harari’s framing of agriculture as a step on the path of “human progress”. It would have been more honest to stick to a purely moral and ideological critique in that case, instead of misrepresenting his factual points.
It explained that agriculture allowed people to live in cities, and that for agriculture to work, people had to avoid eating their seeds in the long winter.
Or, as it got lodged in my mind
--
Delayed gratification is the root of civilization.
--
Which saying has been impressively valuable in my life
This is the main topic of James C. Scott's Against the Grain.
James C. Scott and David Graeber are both anthropologists and anarchists. David Graeber might have a lot good mind opening ideas but overall I was less convinced by his narrative.
I suspect the the authors of this piece really object to Harari’s framing of agriculture as a step on the path of “human progress”. It would have been more honest to stick to a purely moral and ideological critique in that case, instead of misrepresenting his factual points.