What Can We Learn from Foraging Societies?
What can we learn from studying foraging societies? Is there anything we can learn regarding our relationship to the environment, or our family members, for example?
I believe that much can be gained from studying foraging societies like the San or the Batek. We can learn how these cultures survive in the marginal environment that they live. We can learn how they work together as a team to ensure that their needs are met. Since the goal of a foraging society to work together and share the fruits of the labor there is very little competing or conflict among the members of their society. (Nowak & Laird 2010 Ci 3.1)
Early anthropologist assumed that these communities were starving and their lives were a daily struggle. But most people here in the United States would kill for a 2 or 3 day work schedule that left the bulk of their time to social interactions. But the foragers do not require much in the way of material things. By being an on the move community it does not pay to acquire many items that the forager would have to transport to and from hunting or planting grounds. (Nowak & Laird 2010)
I think my family would learn a lot about how every member has value. From the very young to the very old they all have their place in a foraging society. The young being treasured for what the future holds and being able to be a child as their contribution. Our children grow up so fast in our culture. The elderly of the foraging communities are held in a place of honor and valued for their experience. That is sadly not the case in my family.
As for the environment, they would not pollute the environment with chemicals. But the foragers could possibly harm the environment by over farming or hunting an area for too long. I do not believe that is a common problem with a foraging society because it would not be beneficial for them in the long run. We are not as a people, that far thinking when it comes to the environment. We are a I want it now kind of
I believe that much can be gained from studying foraging societies like the San or the Batek. We can learn how these cultures survive in the marginal environment that they live. We can learn how they work together as a team to ensure that their needs are met. Since the goal of a foraging society to work together and share the fruits of the labor there is very little competing or conflict among the members of their society. (Nowak & Laird 2010 Ci 3.1)
Early anthropologist assumed that these communities were starving and their lives were a daily struggle. But most people here in the United States would kill for a 2 or 3 day work schedule that left the bulk of their time to social interactions. But the foragers do not require much in the way of material things. By being an on the move community it does not pay to acquire many items that the forager would have to transport to and from hunting or planting grounds. (Nowak & Laird 2010)
I think my family would learn a lot about how every member has value. From the very young to the very old they all have their place in a foraging society. The young being treasured for what the future holds and being able to be a child as their contribution. Our children grow up so fast in our culture. The elderly of the foraging communities are held in a place of honor and valued for their experience. That is sadly not the case in my family.
As for the environment, they would not pollute the environment with chemicals. But the foragers could possibly harm the environment by over farming or hunting an area for too long. I do not believe that is a common problem with a foraging society because it would not be beneficial for them in the long run. We are not as a people, that far thinking when it comes to the environment. We are a I want it now kind of