Re: Dispelling the "Man the Mighty Hunter" Myth

ta wrote:
<snip blustery bullshit>

        From Library Journal
        This is one of a number of recent books that trace both
        environmental destruction and social oppression to the Western
        world view

Sentence should end there. Mason is a leftist prat whose anti-capitalist 
views make everything Western "wrong."

        that sets humankind outside of, above, and in conflict with
        nature.

It's not a exactly Western view, and it's corollary position (that 
everything Eastern is utopian and in accord with nature) is false. Man's 
conflict with nature transcends culture and geography. The "paradigm of 
the primitive" is specious as well. The primitive hunts and gathers, and 
is often hunted himself. I don't think Mason would trade in his laptop 
for life in the jungle. He's too conditioned by life in the Ivory Tower, 
and he'd have to endure the shattering of his mythic delusions.

        What makes this work unique is the emphasis he places on the
        relationship between human beings and other animals as both
        explaining and symbolizing our dysfunctional way of life with
        its built-in patriarchy, misogyny, and racism.

This sums up his book in a nutshell. Mason has co-written with Peter 
Singer, so you already know his AR background. What he spells out now is 
the rest of the effete views held by the radical elite today. One again, 
Mason upholds the mythical "paradigm of the primitive" while failing to 
note that women in such societies are literally barefoot and pregnant.

        "Dominionism" justifies merciless exploitation of the earth and
        its creatures for human wealth and pleasure, but it has left a
        deep psychic wound.

The primitive, too, uses his surroundings to his advantage and exercises 
dominion in the jungle. Other creatures represent the primitive's food 
and clothing, his sustenance in a rough environment. The "psychic wound" 
is only experienced in the West, and only by the hypersensitive and 
mentally ill ARAs and "ethical vegans."

        In pursuing his argument Mason (coauthor with Peter Singer of
        Animal Factories , LJ 6/1/80) piles up powerful and provocative
        examples and insights.

No, it's mostly colorful sophistry, strawmen, and mythology masquerading 
as academic insight. His examples are specious, and his insights are 
flawed by illogic and the paradigm of the primitive.

        He is less successful in convincing the reader of the
        sufficiency of his overall thesis...

Which supports my previous statement.

The Library Journal review was on the Amazon website:
http://tinyurl.com/wetz