Paper: Ritual human sacrifice effect on stratification

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The discussion centers around a hypothesis presented in a Nature article suggesting that ritual human sacrifice has historically contributed to the evolution of stratified societies. The argument posits that societies with a history of human sacrifice exhibit greater social stratification today, drawing on data from a Southeast Asian language family. The conversation highlights modern parallels, particularly referencing ISIS and their use of ritual homicide as a means of control. Participants reflect on the implications of such practices, noting the psychological impact of witnessing staged executions and the societal values surrounding sacrifice. The discussion also touches on the moral conflicts that arise when different cultural values are considered, hinting at philosophical insights from figures like Machiavelli.
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I posted this in discussion because it was interesting, IMO, and does not fit anywhere on PF

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature17159.html
Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies

The hypothesis is: more use of human sacrifice in the past, results in increased stratification of the extant modern culture. The data are from a single SE Asian language family.

For me, the ISIS atrocities come to mind as a modern example of control using ritual homicide. 'Ritual homicide' is a staged execution, my definition.
 
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jim mcnamara said:
I posted this in discussion because it was interesting, IMO, and does not fit anywhere on PF

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature17159.html
Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies

The hypothesis is: more use of human sacrifice in the past, results in increased stratification of the extant modern culture. The data are from a single SE Asian language family.

For me, the ISIS atrocities come to mind as a modern example of control using ritual homicide. 'Ritual homicide' is a staged execution, my definition.

Interesting, I will have to re-read it later.

Yep, it can be defined as staged- how else could they manipulate/control a larger group if nobody witnessed it? Ritual sacrifice would have been very similar to ritual homicide we see now, same circumstance?

It's disgusting and terrible what these people are doing, have you watched the videos? Being thrown out of windows one after another while the group below watches? Lining them up all together makes it worse for me to watch, it is evident that they value no human life, not even their own.
 
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Well, if you think about it from the sociologist's perspective, as long as a society values sacrifice, fulfilling that value is essentially achieving a sort of equilibrium, if you will. Either straying from that norm or witnessing that society from a different set of values will undoubtedly cause moral conflict.

Maybe Machiavelli has a say somewhere in this.
 

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