The Loss of Understanding

Humans were successful because they could think.

They could sense the world around them, like any other animal. but they could also understand what they saw, put it into an abstract context, and know how to use it.

I am using a lot of words here to describe a capability that is instinctive for people - or used to be instinctive.

A different way to describe this would be to say, they ask the question "What is behind this?" or "How can I use it?" Two different questions. The first has religious implications, while the second does not.

People also organize themselves into hierarchical social structures, with those at the top getting the most of everything.

At present, this tendency is very strong and is inhibiting most people's ability to think. People do not observe, then reason from their observations.

They first ask themselves "What am I supposed to see?" And then see (and act on) that.