Collective pride is real and there are a lot examples of it, but it works with small sized groups and when it does it feels great. Because of course we’re a social species, but our monkey brain is built around tribes and doesn’t conceive whole nations.
And that’s why, for example, when I see people cheering for an athlete just because all their parents happened to fuck within the same imaginary lines, I find it really silly.
But I know that’s me, I have no problems with people who have a healthy national pride. I’m just saying I don’t and never had.
When you say “pride in hypotetycal tribal bands that may have never existed” what do you mean? You don’t believe that human beings evolved in tribes or don’t believe the members of these tribes felt a sense of common well-being that we call “pride” which have helped our evolution?
Various tribal structures have existed and still do (I’m a registered member of a clan, was clan secretary at one point) but Rousseau’s bands are a fantasy with no archæological basis.
I see to reason to speculate on history when we have collective pride visible in our daily experience. Especially not to say the former is valid and the really-experienced one isn’t.
Collective pride is real and there are a lot examples of it, but it works with small sized groups and when it does it feels great. Because of course we’re a social species, but our monkey brain is built around tribes and doesn’t conceive whole nations. And that’s why, for example, when I see people cheering for an athlete just because all their parents happened to fuck within the same imaginary lines, I find it really silly.
But I know that’s me, I have no problems with people who have a healthy national pride. I’m just saying I don’t and never had.
You’re comparing two things:
Actually observed collective pride in nations
Pride in hypothetical tribal bands that may have never existed
And saying the first is “silly” but the second is what we’re built for.
Understanding collective pride in its actual form is less silly than pushing into some dreamed-of past.
When you say “pride in hypotetycal tribal bands that may have never existed” what do you mean? You don’t believe that human beings evolved in tribes or don’t believe the members of these tribes felt a sense of common well-being that we call “pride” which have helped our evolution?
Various tribal structures have existed and still do (I’m a registered member of a clan, was clan secretary at one point) but Rousseau’s bands are a fantasy with no archæological basis.
I see to reason to speculate on history when we have collective pride visible in our daily experience. Especially not to say the former is valid and the really-experienced one isn’t.