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An Inordinate Faith in Tools
The rise and fall of Homo faber
Without technology, we are only frustrated monkeys staring at earthen mounds, unable to extract termites from them. Without technology, we are ape-men forever doomed to cold nights in dank caves, dependent upon what few critters we can chase down and catch with our bare hands, whatever berry bushes we can find.
It’s impossible to imagine us being fully human without a few basic tools: fire, a sharp edge, and some kind of pounding or grinding implement. In a sense, our tools define us. We are not really Homo sapiens, wise man, but rather Homo faber — the primate that makes and uses tools.
An Evolutionary Success Story
The rise of humankind over the past million years or so is a success story, no doubt. We are nature’s darlings, having proven time and again that adaptability and resourcefulness are critical to survival. As Darwin pointed out over a hundred and fifty years ago, it’s all about adaptation. And that we have done quite well, thanks to all the gray matter between our ears.
We thrive in all climes, in every corner of the globe. We have made land, sea, and sky our own. We practically own this planet and tomorrow — who knows? — we may own the stars. But it’s not over yet. There is no guarantee that our kind will…
