Hunting and gathering

Shepard argues that agriculture should be abandoned for a number a reasons, and he presents his own vision of a hunter-gatherer future. I'm not convinced, however, that simply making everybody a hunter-gatherer will solve our culture's problems. For one thing, it doesn't seem like a very realistic, feasible plan. For another, I think any lifestyle can be destructive - even hunting and gathering - depending on the assumptions one carries with us. Our current form of agriculture (and our culture in general) is particularly destructive because of the assumptions we carry. These assumptions, like the concept of linear time, that man shapes his destiny, and the whole notion of "progress," shape our culture and agriculture. So I don't think agriculture is the root of the problem. If we became hunter-gatherers and carried the same assumptions, our culture would probably be just as destructive.

I suppose what I'm getting at is not so much a way that Shepard's suggested changes might be implemented. If instead of trying to change our food source, we try to change our culture's assumptions, we might shift away from agriculture naturally. For instance, if we change the assumption that nature is inanimate, people might see agriculture to be exploitative and may desire a lifestyle (like hunting and gathering) that fosters respect of and a connection with nature. If we change the basic assumptions, I think the rest will sort itself out.

-Tyler Wake