The myths of universal ability and homogenous evilness

It is bad enough to grow up without being able to learn other points of view.  When state societies developed the situation became even worse.  Superiors could lose their direct contact with their own subordinates.  They started to take it for granted everyone could live up to all demands just because they were used to making them.  The one who originally made the demands did not at all need to have a good judgemental ability.  Furthermore, what you are used to can change considerably over centuries.

How does one then react when someone does not live up to demands?  One assumes the person to have made a conscious choice not to have done what is demanded.  In reality there are many reasons for people not doing things.  But if one takes it for granted everyone can, one does not consider anything else than someone having made a conscious choice.  Much of the overconfidence in punishments likely comes from this myth.

In state societies there are entire groups which rarely do what their rulers want.  Alternatively, they are defined by not meeting certain demands.  How is this then perceived by a person who takes it for granted everybody can?  There is pretty high likelihood the person believes the group to consist of bad people.  This is how hatred against groups within society arose.

Uploaded on the 24th of April 2023.