Interesting, I didn't know about some of the naysaying. I have read Guns, Germs, and Steel, but not Collapse. I can see what they're saying about taking such a vast view of human development as almost pre-ordained by ecological advantages or disadvantages. I'm trying to remember how the rise and fall of empires was explained when I was in school -- I think it was a lot more personality-driven the way they told it, attributing change to the brains and personalities of specific leaders.
There is kind of a tendency to see a lot of things in history as unique to the personalities that oversaw them. Like, when we say Edison invented the lightbulb, it's as though NO ONE ELSE could or would have done it. Usually not saying that in so many words, but sometimes actually doing so -- you know that meme about the inventions of African-Americans? Suggesting that if not for them, we wouldn't "have" the things invented by them. Which really I think is obviously incorrect -- someone else would have developed traffic lights. Just not at that moment.
Well, I'm rambling, but that's what comes to mind when I see that criticism of Diamond. Maybe Diamond is also taking it to an extreme and not giving individuals enough credit/discredit.
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Date: 2009-05-14 07:47 pm (UTC)There is kind of a tendency to see a lot of things in history as unique to the personalities that oversaw them. Like, when we say Edison invented the lightbulb, it's as though NO ONE ELSE could or would have done it. Usually not saying that in so many words, but sometimes actually doing so -- you know that meme about the inventions of African-Americans? Suggesting that if not for them, we wouldn't "have" the things invented by them. Which really I think is obviously incorrect -- someone else would have developed traffic lights. Just not at that moment.
Well, I'm rambling, but that's what comes to mind when I see that criticism of Diamond. Maybe Diamond is also taking it to an extreme and not giving individuals enough credit/discredit.