I love things like this. In the second book we read on my Substack, the author talked about Maslow and how the ideas of his super influential hierarchy may have been / probably were impacted by his very sad, dysfunctional childhood. Fascinating, and wild how bad ideas can be so accepted and good ones so ignored.
Looking forward to being in more regular conversation with you Elissa!
I didn't know that about Maslow. But it makes sense!! Ultimately I find it all a call to proceed with a measure of humility -- even if that won't get you famous/elected these days....
Yes, you are so right! I greatly admire Darwin as a human being as well as a scientist, and I'm so glad you're elevating the nuance of what he actually found. Humans are both "naturally" competitive and "naturally" cooperative as the environment requires -- and right now, our environment needs a HUGE shift toward care and cooperation. And you are not the only one who recoils inside being confronted with "those" smirks again. ::shudder::
'Therefore, “communities which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members, would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring.”' I had no idea he said this! This has always seemed so apparent to me--that in a community where people care for one another, life will thrive. I've observed it in my own family of origin, communities I've belonged to, and in the animal world, but haven't thought about it in this evolutionary way.
It's a hard case to make, when the powerful are so full of rage and righteousness, and hope is so low, but I do think we'd win more people to a politics of care by making this the sell--it's the only way to a happier, healthier life for everyone, (yes, you too!) . It's fundamentally what Brigid Schulte has argued about family supportive policies and workplace reforms to support caregivers--that it's not just about economic security (though it is that!), but it also just makes life better. and I'd love to see more people lean into that framing right now, rather than slipping fully into defense. Thanks for the inspiration!
and thanks for this beautiful and wise reflection! I agree, and I think it connects to this "everyone is lonely but no one can hang out" thing. We don't agree with individualism in an intellectual/ moral sense, but it is so woven into the fabric of frigging everything that it is hard to not live it.
oh, thanks for letting me know! book promo is such a weird place to be -- so hard to know how it's metabolizing out in the world -- so good to hear my YAY CARE/ SUPPORT CARE message is being received. <3
This is really great, and I'm glad you brought up the Darwin stuff. That had kind of slipped my mind, but when I read your book it was one of my favorite parts. I previously knew nothing about Darwin's personal life, but he feels like a really good example of the kind of guy we could be holding up as a role model.
yeah, I agree. Sometimes I am taken to task because he (shockingly! :) ) doesn't check all the boxes of contemporary feminism. But overall, as a person and a thinker, we could learn a lot. Also, I love that his wife believed in God, and he didn't, and that that seemed to be okay with him. He respected the difference, understood the longing/connection for the divine, and pursued it on his own terms, in a way, in and through nature. He was able to contemplate big, radical ideas without immediately reducing those who didn't see things the same exact way as he did. IMAGINE!
I love things like this. In the second book we read on my Substack, the author talked about Maslow and how the ideas of his super influential hierarchy may have been / probably were impacted by his very sad, dysfunctional childhood. Fascinating, and wild how bad ideas can be so accepted and good ones so ignored.
Looking forward to being in more regular conversation with you Elissa!
I didn't know that about Maslow. But it makes sense!! Ultimately I find it all a call to proceed with a measure of humility -- even if that won't get you famous/elected these days....
Yes, you are so right! I greatly admire Darwin as a human being as well as a scientist, and I'm so glad you're elevating the nuance of what he actually found. Humans are both "naturally" competitive and "naturally" cooperative as the environment requires -- and right now, our environment needs a HUGE shift toward care and cooperation. And you are not the only one who recoils inside being confronted with "those" smirks again. ::shudder::
'Therefore, “communities which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members, would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring.”' I had no idea he said this! This has always seemed so apparent to me--that in a community where people care for one another, life will thrive. I've observed it in my own family of origin, communities I've belonged to, and in the animal world, but haven't thought about it in this evolutionary way.
It's a hard case to make, when the powerful are so full of rage and righteousness, and hope is so low, but I do think we'd win more people to a politics of care by making this the sell--it's the only way to a happier, healthier life for everyone, (yes, you too!) . It's fundamentally what Brigid Schulte has argued about family supportive policies and workplace reforms to support caregivers--that it's not just about economic security (though it is that!), but it also just makes life better. and I'd love to see more people lean into that framing right now, rather than slipping fully into defense. Thanks for the inspiration!
and thanks for this beautiful and wise reflection! I agree, and I think it connects to this "everyone is lonely but no one can hang out" thing. We don't agree with individualism in an intellectual/ moral sense, but it is so woven into the fabric of frigging everything that it is hard to not live it.
Also, your book was featured as part of a national caregiver month display at my local library in southern Utah in November! Your reach is wide!
oh, thanks for letting me know! book promo is such a weird place to be -- so hard to know how it's metabolizing out in the world -- so good to hear my YAY CARE/ SUPPORT CARE message is being received. <3
This is really great, and I'm glad you brought up the Darwin stuff. That had kind of slipped my mind, but when I read your book it was one of my favorite parts. I previously knew nothing about Darwin's personal life, but he feels like a really good example of the kind of guy we could be holding up as a role model.
yeah, I agree. Sometimes I am taken to task because he (shockingly! :) ) doesn't check all the boxes of contemporary feminism. But overall, as a person and a thinker, we could learn a lot. Also, I love that his wife believed in God, and he didn't, and that that seemed to be okay with him. He respected the difference, understood the longing/connection for the divine, and pursued it on his own terms, in a way, in and through nature. He was able to contemplate big, radical ideas without immediately reducing those who didn't see things the same exact way as he did. IMAGINE!
Love this so much.