Fuentes on Aggression; Graeber on Egalitarianism

Fuentes on Aggression; Graeber on Egalitarianism

From KPFA - Against the Grain by KPFA

April 15, 2026 · 60 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the assumptions about human nature regarding aggression and the potential for egalitarian societal organization.

We often are told there is no other way to organize society — that by our very nature, we’re destined to try to dominate each other. But are such assumptions merited? Primatologist Agustín Fuentes pulls apart the supposedly evolutionary case that humans are hardwired for war. And the late anthropologist David Graeber discusses the active cultivation of pessimism about our ability to organize society in a more egalitarian way. To celebrate KPFA Radio’s 77th birthday, please donate to Against the Grain and KPFA! Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash The post Fuentes on Aggression; Graeber on Egalitarianism appeared first on KPFA.

People in this episode

Guests: Agustín Fuentes, David Graeber

Topics covered

  • aggression
  • egalitarianism
  • societal organization
  • human nature
  • pessimism
  • evolutionary psychology

Keywords

  • aggression
  • egalitarianism
  • human nature
  • society
  • David Graeber
  • Agustín Fuentes
  • evolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: KPFA

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