Thanks for making this important point, Kevin. I don't think individual freedom and inequality are mutually exclusive either. If we managed our economies properly, we'd all have both. We'd all be comfortably housed, have enough to eat and the ability to develop our fullest potentials.
Thank you, Diana! Yes, equality is really only a problem for individual freedoms that are dependent on inequality. Greater equality should mean greater freedom for the majority of society--more democracy, access to the basic things we need and more time on our hands.
I’m not going to criticize or dismiss someone purely on the basis of their nationality. There are allies to be found in every country, including Israel. I’d criticize Harari on the basis of his ideas and telling of history, including his bad takes defending Israel, but there’s nothing particularly Israeli about his general worldview or telling of history. Hence, why “Sapiens” is so popular, published in 65 languages, and why I think it’s worth critiquing.
Obviously not judging him on the state he lives in. And there are some very brave anti Zionists in Israel. Read sapiens when it was released 7/8 years ago and enjoyed it. The fact is that for such a big thinker to live where he does and not address the elephant let alone the on going genocide seems to invalidate his work, do you not feel?
That context/elaboration would have been helpful in your first comment, which, to me, reads like a straightforward dismissal based on his being an Israeli.
To your question: I read his book prior to the recent and ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israel, and, in addition to finding the book to be largely representing a reactionary view of history, there were at least a couple of places wherein—knowing he’s an Israeli citizen—I especially felt the "elephant" of his not addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For ex., as he describes the Arab world in his section emphasizing an era of unprecedented peace in the world: “We seldom think of the Arab world as particularly peaceful.” Given his largely conservative and reactionary views, I was not surprised by his positions on the current situation.
Of course, all of that is far from dismissing him based on his nationality, which your first comment seemed to do without the added context, which is why I wanted to address it – as I'm critical of Harari’s work, but I'd like to foster thoughtful discussions around it.
I don't think his more recent commentaries/stances will automatically or wholly delegitimize him in the minds of the broader public, even if everyone who read his works was following him now, which is certainly far from the case.
I appreciate your engagement here and the artworks you're doing, and I’m in solidarity with you in supporting the Palestinian cause.
Thanks for making this important point, Kevin. I don't think individual freedom and inequality are mutually exclusive either. If we managed our economies properly, we'd all have both. We'd all be comfortably housed, have enough to eat and the ability to develop our fullest potentials.
Thank you, Diana! Yes, equality is really only a problem for individual freedoms that are dependent on inequality. Greater equality should mean greater freedom for the majority of society--more democracy, access to the basic things we need and more time on our hands.
YNH is an Israeli. Nuff said.
I’m not going to criticize or dismiss someone purely on the basis of their nationality. There are allies to be found in every country, including Israel. I’d criticize Harari on the basis of his ideas and telling of history, including his bad takes defending Israel, but there’s nothing particularly Israeli about his general worldview or telling of history. Hence, why “Sapiens” is so popular, published in 65 languages, and why I think it’s worth critiquing.
Obviously not judging him on the state he lives in. And there are some very brave anti Zionists in Israel. Read sapiens when it was released 7/8 years ago and enjoyed it. The fact is that for such a big thinker to live where he does and not address the elephant let alone the on going genocide seems to invalidate his work, do you not feel?
That context/elaboration would have been helpful in your first comment, which, to me, reads like a straightforward dismissal based on his being an Israeli.
To your question: I read his book prior to the recent and ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israel, and, in addition to finding the book to be largely representing a reactionary view of history, there were at least a couple of places wherein—knowing he’s an Israeli citizen—I especially felt the "elephant" of his not addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For ex., as he describes the Arab world in his section emphasizing an era of unprecedented peace in the world: “We seldom think of the Arab world as particularly peaceful.” Given his largely conservative and reactionary views, I was not surprised by his positions on the current situation.
Of course, all of that is far from dismissing him based on his nationality, which your first comment seemed to do without the added context, which is why I wanted to address it – as I'm critical of Harari’s work, but I'd like to foster thoughtful discussions around it.
I don't think his more recent commentaries/stances will automatically or wholly delegitimize him in the minds of the broader public, even if everyone who read his works was following him now, which is certainly far from the case.
I appreciate your engagement here and the artworks you're doing, and I’m in solidarity with you in supporting the Palestinian cause.