Understanding Society
How Power Corrupts
EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
If humans are innately friendly — and among the few species capable of blushing — why do the shameless so often rule? Doug takes up that paradox through Rutger Bregman’s Humankind: A Hopeful History, naming the egomaniacs, opportunists, narcissists, and sociopaths who repeatedly reach the top. Brief as it is, the piece establishes the question that the following discussion of power must answer.
A Note on the Original Text
Doug’s writings are presented as originally written. Spelling, punctuation, and grammatical irregularities have been retained to preserve his words and the integrity of the original record.
ORIGINAL WRITING
The content in this post is based on the book Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman.
The title of this post is identical to the title of a section in the book. The lead in to this section follows:
“If Homo puppy is such an innate friendly creature, why do egomaniacs and opportunists, narcissists and sociopaths keep coming out on top? How can it be that we humans—one of the only species to blush—somehow allow ourselves who are ruled by specimens who are utterly shameless?