[Music] our dominant ideology is based on a lie
our dominant ideology is based on a lie
our dominant ideology is based on a lie the idea that human beings are
the idea that human beings are
the idea that human beings are fundamentally selfish some economists
fundamentally selfish some economists
fundamentally selfish some economists even have a word for this they call us
even have a word for this they call us
even have a word for this they call us Homo economicus self-maximizing man
Homo economicus self-maximizing man
Homo economicus self-maximizing man elbowing other people out of the way in
elbowing other people out of the way in
elbowing other people out of the way in order to enhance our own wealth and
order to enhance our own wealth and
order to enhance our own wealth and power and it’s certainly true that some
power and it’s certainly true that some
power and it’s certainly true that some economists behave like that and some
economists behave like that and some
economists behave like that and some public figures behave like that but it
public figures behave like that but it
public figures behave like that but it does not describe the majority of
does not describe the majority of
does not describe the majority of humankind by a long talk we are in fact
humankind by a long talk we are in fact
humankind by a long talk we are in fact an exceptional species with levels of
an exceptional species with levels of
an exceptional species with levels of altruism and empathy that exceed those
altruism and empathy that exceed those
altruism and empathy that exceed those of any other species and and that
of any other species and and that
of any other species and and that capacity for altruism appears to be
capacity for altruism appears to be
capacity for altruism appears to be innate from the age of 14 months
innate from the age of 14 months
innate from the age of 14 months children will try to help others to
children will try to help others to
children will try to help others to reach something that’s out of their
reach something that’s out of their
reach something that’s out of their grasp by the time they’re 2 they will
grasp by the time they’re 2 they will
grasp by the time they’re 2 they will start to share valued possessions not
start to share valued possessions not
start to share valued possessions not just with family members but with
just with family members but with
just with family members but with unrelated people something which really
unrelated people something which really
unrelated people something which really marks us out from the great majority of
marks us out from the great majority of
marks us out from the great majority of animal species by the time they’re three
animal species by the time they’re three
animal species by the time they’re three and they will start establishing moral
and they will start establishing moral
and they will start establishing moral norms imposing on their friends and and
norms imposing on their friends and and
norms imposing on their friends and and and other people they know altruistic
and other people they know altruistic
and other people they know altruistic codes don’t behave like that that’s
codes don’t behave like that that’s
codes don’t behave like that that’s wrong and all these seem to be innate
wrong and all these seem to be innate
wrong and all these seem to be innate and embedded characteristics part of the
and embedded characteristics part of the
and embedded characteristics part of the normal human psyche but it is quite
normal human psyche but it is quite
normal human psyche but it is quite exceptional in in in terms of the rest
exceptional in in in terms of the rest
exceptional in in in terms of the rest of the animal kingdom
of the animal kingdom
of the animal kingdom when it comes to another characteristic
when it comes to another characteristic
when it comes to another characteristic – we are way out ahead of almost all
– we are way out ahead of almost all
– we are way out ahead of almost all other species which is our degree of
other species which is our degree of
other species which is our degree of social interaction the extent to which
social interaction the extent to which
social interaction the extent to which we possess social Minds perhaps the only
we possess social Minds perhaps the only
we possess social Minds perhaps the only species which goes further than us is
species which goes further than us is
species which goes further than us is the naked mole rat but I won’t go into
the naked mole rat but I won’t go into
the naked mole rat but I won’t go into that today and and these two
that today and and these two
that today and and these two characteristics brought together will
characteristics brought together will
characteristics brought together will create this remarkable moral sense and
create this remarkable moral sense and
create this remarkable moral sense and an ability to project our moral selves
an ability to project our moral selves
an ability to project our moral selves well beyond our immediate circumstance
well beyond our immediate circumstance
well beyond our immediate circumstance and a recent paper in a psychology
and a recent paper in a psychology
and a recent paper in a psychology Journal points out that Homo economicus
Journal points out that Homo economicus
Journal points out that Homo economicus is an excellent description of
is an excellent description of
is an excellent description of chimpanzees and it’s a really bad
chimpanzees and it’s a really bad
chimpanzees and it’s a really bad description of human beings but the
description of human beings but the
description of human beings but the danger is that if we keep telling
danger is that if we keep telling
danger is that if we keep telling ourselves we’re selfish and greedy and
ourselves we’re selfish and greedy and
ourselves we’re selfish and greedy and grasping and we just shove everyone out
grasping and we just shove everyone out
grasping and we just shove everyone out the way that that could become a
the way that that could become a
the way that that could become a self-fulfilling claim that we start to
self-fulfilling claim that we start to
self-fulfilling claim that we start to see other people as a social threat we
see other people as a social threat we
see other people as a social threat we start to see them as being above all
start to see them as being above all
start to see them as being above all else competitive in their relations with
else competitive in their relations with
else competitive in their relations with us rather than the thing which humans do
us rather than the thing which humans do
us rather than the thing which humans do better than any other species being
better than any other species being
better than any other species being cooperative and I wouldn’t claim that
cooperative and I wouldn’t claim that
cooperative and I wouldn’t claim that this is the only thing setting us apart
this is the only thing setting us apart
this is the only thing setting us apart or the only thing responsible for the
or the only thing responsible for the
or the only thing responsible for the extraordinary levels of loneliness which
extraordinary levels of loneliness which
extraordinary levels of loneliness which that many of the 7 billion people
that many of the 7 billion people
that many of the 7 billion people crowded onto this planet paradoxically
crowded onto this planet paradoxically
crowded onto this planet paradoxically suffer plainly there’s been all sorts of
suffer plainly there’s been all sorts of
suffer plainly there’s been all sorts of economic and technological and social
economic and technological and social
economic and technological and social change which have also been responsible
change which have also been responsible
change which have also been responsible for these horrendous levels of
for these horrendous levels of
for these horrendous levels of involuntary social isolation but it’s
involuntary social isolation but it’s
involuntary social isolation but it’s bound to be a factor surely if this is
bound to be a factor surely if this is
bound to be a factor surely if this is the way that we see other people and we
the way that we see other people and we
the way that we see other people and we sense this social threat from other
sense this social threat from other
sense this social threat from other people that is bound to set us apart and
people that is bound to set us apart and
people that is bound to set us apart and Ewan and I came together to to challenge
Ewan and I came together to to challenge
Ewan and I came together to to challenge that myth and to challenge the idea
that myth and to challenge the idea
that myth and to challenge the idea which is completely unscientific that we
which is completely unscientific that we
which is completely unscientific that we are fundamentally as Thomas Hobbes
are fundamentally as Thomas Hobbes
are fundamentally as Thomas Hobbes claimed solitary poor and our lives are
claimed solitary poor and our lives are
claimed solitary poor and our lives are nasty brutish and short they are at
nasty brutish and short they are at
nasty brutish and short they are at least quite long not nice but to
least quite long not nice but to
least quite long not nice but to actually try to stand up to that myth
actually try to stand up to that myth
actually try to stand up to that myth which had its roots in an understanding
which had its roots in an understanding
which had its roots in an understanding of human evolution which was confined to
of human evolution which was confined to
of human evolution which was confined to the book of Genesis and now what we know
the book of Genesis and now what we know
the book of Genesis and now what we know from neurobiology from psychology from
from neurobiology from psychology from
from neurobiology from psychology from human evolution we know we are not like
human evolution we know we are not like
human evolution we know we are not like that but unfortunately that’s not the
that but unfortunately that’s not the
that but unfortunately that’s not the method that’s not the message that often
method that’s not the message that often
method that’s not the message that often comes across and what we’ve decided to
comes across and what we’ve decided to
comes across and what we’ve decided to do is to use the most powerful medium
do is to use the most powerful medium
do is to use the most powerful medium human beings have invented for bringing
human beings have invented for bringing
human beings have invented for bringing people together in order to spread that
people together in order to spread that
people together in order to spread that message and that’s music
message and that’s music
message and that’s music we wrote an album called breaking the
we wrote an album called breaking the
we wrote an album called breaking the spell of loneliness and the first track
spell of loneliness and the first track
spell of loneliness and the first track laid out our manifesto such a thing of
laid out our manifesto such a thing of
laid out our manifesto such a thing of society
[Music]
[Music] we have
we have
we have [Music]
it’s working
it’s working be together
be together
be together human
human
human [Music]
and the glitz that our goal and the
and the glitz that our goal and the silver shirt we see ourselves in the
silver shirt we see ourselves in the
silver shirt we see ourselves in the image of me have we fought over the
image of me have we fought over the
image of me have we fought over the scraps since a very personal
scraps since a very personal
scraps since a very personal do we really believe
do we really believe
do we really believe [Music]
that such a big mess society keeps us
that such a big mess society keeps us from losing
together that makes us human
together that makes us human [Music]
it’s not to rehearse not how we live in
it’s not to rehearse not how we live in the depths of the SAS going money too
the depths of the SAS going money too
the depths of the SAS going money too we lend our hands a stranger’s be mates
we lend our hands a stranger’s be mates
we lend our hands a stranger’s be mates we go a mouse or the tremors tenants we
we go a mouse or the tremors tenants we
we go a mouse or the tremors tenants we go without smaller than others
it’s such a big mess society
it’s such a big mess society not me
not me
not me that’s what Kahneman laughing together
that’s what Kahneman laughing together
that’s what Kahneman laughing together that makes us human
that makes us human
that makes us human [Music]
[Music]
[Music] watch it all weather and the light of
watch it all weather and the light of
watch it all weather and the light of the Sun and the water about meat
the Sun and the water about meat
the Sun and the water about meat I’m alive
United will stand away
United will stand away [Music]
[Music]
[Music] to play
to play
to play [Music]
[Music]
[Music] and I such a big mess Society
and I such a big mess Society
and I such a big mess Society and losing their mate it’s black unity
and losing their mate it’s black unity
and losing their mate it’s black unity living together that makes us human
living together that makes us human
living together that makes us human [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
something is plainly going wrong for the
something is plainly going wrong for the most ultra ultra social of all species
most ultra ultra social of all species
most ultra ultra social of all species and the sector of our society which
and the sector of our society which
and the sector of our society which seems to be suffering from it most is
seems to be suffering from it most is
seems to be suffering from it most is our children childhood should be a time
our children childhood should be a time
our children childhood should be a time of lightness and joy but recent
of lightness and joy but recent
of lightness and joy but recent statistics suggest that for many it’s a
statistics suggest that for many it’s a
statistics suggest that for many it’s a time of horrible darkness one figure
time of horrible darkness one figure
time of horrible darkness one figure that came out well just last week
that came out well just last week
that came out well just last week suggests that children in children here
suggests that children in children here
suggests that children in children here in Britain girls have increased the rate
in Britain girls have increased the rate
in Britain girls have increased the rate of hospitalization for cutting
of hospitalization for cutting
of hospitalization for cutting themselves almost fourfold over the last
themselves almost fourfold over the last
themselves almost fourfold over the last ten years there’s something going very
ten years there’s something going very
ten years there’s something going very badly wrong here indeed and I think
badly wrong here indeed and I think
badly wrong here indeed and I think there are several possible explanations
there are several possible explanations
there are several possible explanations well what makes this strange is that
well what makes this strange is that
well what makes this strange is that parenting seems to have improved almost
parenting seems to have improved almost
parenting seems to have improved almost beyond recognition in the past 50 years
beyond recognition in the past 50 years
beyond recognition in the past 50 years that that parents are more engaged more
that that parents are more engaged more
that that parents are more engaged more switched on to their children than
switched on to their children than
switched on to their children than perhaps they’ve ever been before fathers
perhaps they’ve ever been before fathers
perhaps they’ve ever been before fathers are much more involved and yet all this
are much more involved and yet all this
are much more involved and yet all this really bad stuff is happening at the
really bad stuff is happening at the
really bad stuff is happening at the same time social media possibly has
same time social media possibly has
same time social media possibly has something to do with it if it has it’s
something to do with it if it has it’s
something to do with it if it has it’s great force for bringing us together but
great force for bringing us together but
great force for bringing us together but it could also set us apart especially
it could also set us apart especially
it could also set us apart especially when it becomes a means of social
when it becomes a means of social
when it becomes a means of social comparison and girls for instance using
comparison and girls for instance using
comparison and girls for instance using all these this retouching software to
all these this retouching software to
all these this retouching software to make themselves look slimmer and
make themselves look slimmer and
make themselves look slimmer and smoother than they really are and the
smoother than they really are and the
smoother than they really are and the the potentially devastating impacts that
the potentially devastating impacts that
the potentially devastating impacts that have has when you’re constantly trying
have has when you’re constantly trying
have has when you’re constantly trying to compare yourself to this idealized
to compare yourself to this idealized
to compare yourself to this idealized image which you can’t possibly reach but
image which you can’t possibly reach but
image which you can’t possibly reach but I think there’s something else happening
I think there’s something else happening
I think there’s something else happening as well and I think it’s got something
as well and I think it’s got something
as well and I think it’s got something to do with one of the greatest and least
to do with one of the greatest and least
to do with one of the greatest and least documented social changes we’ve
documented social changes we’ve
documented social changes we’ve undergone which is children not going
undergone which is children not going
undergone which is children not going outdoors it is quite remarkable the
outdoors it is quite remarkable the
outdoors it is quite remarkable the extent to which this has taken place for
extent to which this has taken place for
extent to which this has taken place for example in the course of just one
example in the course of just one
example in the course of just one generation 25 years the unaccompanied
generation 25 years the unaccompanied
generation 25 years the unaccompanied home range of children the area that
home range of children the area that
home range of children the area that they roam unsupervised by adults has
they roam unsupervised by adults has
they roam unsupervised by adults has reduced by 90% and this not only has
reduced by 90% and this not only has
reduced by 90% and this not only has impacts on their physical health just
impacts on their physical health just
impacts on their physical health just not getting fit enough not developing
not getting fit enough not developing
not getting fit enough not developing physical skills
physical skills
physical skills not only cuts them off from the natural
not only cuts them off from the natural
not only cuts them off from the natural world and cuts off the possibility that
world and cuts off the possibility that
world and cuts off the possibility that those children could turn into the new
those children could turn into the new
those children could turn into the new generation of people loving and
generation of people loving and
generation of people loving and defending that natural world I think it
defending that natural world I think it
defending that natural world I think it also has a devastating impact on their
also has a devastating impact on their
also has a devastating impact on their social skills because when you’re not
social skills because when you’re not
social skills because when you’re not being supervised by adults when you’re
being supervised by adults when you’re
being supervised by adults when you’re running around with a tribe of children
running around with a tribe of children
running around with a tribe of children of your own age you have to work it out
of your own age you have to work it out
of your own age you have to work it out for yourself you have to develop those
for yourself you have to develop those
for yourself you have to develop those social skills by yourself you have to
social skills by yourself you have to
social skills by yourself you have to work out what’s a sensible thing to do
work out what’s a sensible thing to do
work out what’s a sensible thing to do and what’s not and you learn so much
and what’s not and you learn so much
and what’s not and you learn so much better that way when you’re engaged in
better that way when you’re engaged in
better that way when you’re engaged in your own learning process rather than
your own learning process rather than
your own learning process rather than being told and you develop the social
being told and you develop the social
being told and you develop the social skills and very often the friendships
skills and very often the friendships
skills and very often the friendships which will carry you through life and
which will carry you through life and
which will carry you through life and staying indoors staring at a screen by
staying indoors staring at a screen by
staying indoors staring at a screen by yourself
yourself
yourself well that makes you the subject of our
well that makes you the subject of our
well that makes you the subject of our next song the child inside
would stand near our quiets now when
would stand near our quiets now when once their anguish shouts and laughter
once their anguish shouts and laughter
once their anguish shouts and laughter the songs that echoed through the veil
the songs that echoed through the veil
the songs that echoed through the veil as children left it followed after
as children left it followed after
as children left it followed after streams that once we jumped and swam the
streams that once we jumped and swam the
streams that once we jumped and swam the old oak tree we can the child inside as
old oak tree we can the child inside as
old oak tree we can the child inside as philosophy sites the child inside us
philosophy sites the child inside us
philosophy sites the child inside us asked
asked
asked [Music]
[Music]
[Music] who would stand near love watched me
who would stand near love watched me
who would stand near love watched me grow from a child upon my father’s
grow from a child upon my father’s
grow from a child upon my father’s shoulders me across the bow and smell
shoulders me across the bow and smell
shoulders me across the bow and smell the tree as years grew older and I told
the tree as years grew older and I told
the tree as years grew older and I told one of these long gone we built it
Peter Smith I’m afraid
Peter Smith I’m afraid we smile ever
dandelion Club Sun lon
dandelion Club Sun lon conquers life bugs are neglected even
conquers life bugs are neglected even
conquers life bugs are neglected even though words of a winner now
though words of a winner now
though words of a winner now my queen sir leaves the line a collected
my queen sir leaves the line a collected
my queen sir leaves the line a collected Rena Stern
Rena Stern
Rena Stern the way
the way
the way and almost Weaver
and almost Weaver
and almost Weaver a Quisling the mansion built by my son
a Quisling the mansion built by my son
a Quisling the mansion built by my son nor by my daughter
nor by my daughter
nor by my daughter [Music]
[Music]
[Music] as busy roads no plane the place to run
as busy roads no plane the place to run
as busy roads no plane the place to run and laugh and play together switch I’ll
and laugh and play together switch I’ll
and laugh and play together switch I’ll decide is flat from D far from the sting
decide is flat from D far from the sting
decide is flat from D far from the sting and warm weather who woodland lead son
and warm weather who woodland lead son
and warm weather who woodland lead son trotting now the Rambo
trotting now the Rambo
trotting now the Rambo [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Sheldon say does lost me Saints child
Sheldon say does lost me Saints child
Sheldon say does lost me Saints child and save us bust
and save us bust
and save us bust [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] and it’s not just it’s not just children
and it’s not just it’s not just children
and it’s not just it’s not just children who have been cut off from the living
who have been cut off from the living
who have been cut off from the living world through enclosure over the course
world through enclosure over the course
world through enclosure over the course of hundreds of years almost all of us
of hundreds of years almost all of us
of hundreds of years almost all of us were shut out by one means or another
were shut out by one means or another
were shut out by one means or another from the countryside losing the great
from the countryside losing the great
from the countryside losing the great fortifying Commons that provided so much
fortifying Commons that provided so much
fortifying Commons that provided so much of our subsistence but also so much of
of our subsistence but also so much of
of our subsistence but also so much of our social and community and ceremonial
our social and community and ceremonial
our social and community and ceremonial life as well we ended up in the cities
life as well we ended up in the cities
life as well we ended up in the cities Britain was the first largely urbanized
Britain was the first largely urbanized
Britain was the first largely urbanized nation on earth and there we developed a
nation on earth and there we developed a
nation on earth and there we developed a new Commons the street where so much of
new Commons the street where so much of
new Commons the street where so much of our community life and so much of our
our community life and so much of our
our community life and so much of our ceremonial life took place but then that
ceremonial life took place but then that
ceremonial life took place but then that Commons tomb has gradually been taken
Commons tomb has gradually been taken
Commons tomb has gradually been taken away from us in this case by another
away from us in this case by another
away from us in this case by another force the motor vehicle and the busier
force the motor vehicle and the busier
force the motor vehicle and the busier the traffic on the street the less
the traffic on the street the less
the traffic on the street the less social connection you have with your
social connection you have with your
social connection you have with your neighbors the fewer of your neighbors
neighbors the fewer of your neighbors
neighbors the fewer of your neighbors that you know but the good news is that
that you know but the good news is that
that you know but the good news is that many people are trying to reverse that
many people are trying to reverse that
many people are trying to reverse that they’re trying to take back that urban
they’re trying to take back that urban
they’re trying to take back that urban Commons they’re trying to reclaim the
Commons they’re trying to reclaim the
Commons they’re trying to reclaim the street
nice fixed fast seven billion lives
nice fixed fast seven billion lives alone together upside down
alone together upside down
alone together upside down oh love the beat and lay out the tables
oh love the beat and lay out the tables
oh love the beat and lay out the tables and flags and come on that’s – it’s open
and flags and come on that’s – it’s open
and flags and come on that’s – it’s open the white doors and stand together very
the white doors and stand together very
the white doors and stand together very clean in the streets once it to the
clean in the streets once it to the
clean in the streets once it to the streets are raise our children well no
streets are raise our children well no
streets are raise our children well no one died unknown windows no doors were
one died unknown windows no doors were
one died unknown windows no doors were locked
locked
locked once again let’s make the street
once again let’s make the street
once again let’s make the street shadowed three streets belong to
shadowed three streets belong to
shadowed three streets belong to everyone
everyone
everyone wait then comments that we share from
wait then comments that we share from
wait then comments that we share from the box to the playing fields and
the box to the playing fields and
the box to the playing fields and benches these streets are more than just
benches these streets are more than just
benches these streets are more than just a part of me so we’ll have the beer and
a part of me so we’ll have the beer and
a part of me so we’ll have the beer and laying out the tables kind of relax and
laying out the tables kind of relax and
laying out the tables kind of relax and come on out students open wider doors
come on out students open wider doors
come on out students open wider doors and stand together
and stand together
and stand together we reclaim the streets highways that
we reclaim the streets highways that
we reclaim the streets highways that select the term the father’s Godzilla
select the term the father’s Godzilla
select the term the father’s Godzilla laps all right like a nice one day at
laps all right like a nice one day at
laps all right like a nice one day at least let’s all obey the engines once
least let’s all obey the engines once
least let’s all obey the engines once again well fill the streets with life we
again well fill the streets with life we
again well fill the streets with life we dance on the pavements here together
dance on the pavements here together
dance on the pavements here together take back the road for the kids to play
take back the road for the kids to play
take back the road for the kids to play pull down the billboards and the places
pull down the billboards and the places
pull down the billboards and the places I’m toe up streets in the hallway
I’m toe up streets in the hallway
I’m toe up streets in the hallway we’ll have to be in a layout the tables
we’ll have to be in a layout the tables
we’ll have to be in a layout the tables hang the flags and among our students
hang the flags and among our students
hang the flags and among our students open wider doors and stand together
open wider doors and stand together
open wider doors and stand together they really clean the street we reclaim
they really clean the street we reclaim
they really clean the street we reclaim the street
the street
the street [Music]
is our belief that the health of a
is our belief that the health of a political society depends on the ability
political society depends on the ability
political society depends on the ability of people to come back together that if
of people to come back together that if
of people to come back together that if we are to see political renewal in this
we are to see political renewal in this
we are to see political renewal in this country or in any other is going to
country or in any other is going to
country or in any other is going to depend not on angry meetings of people
depend not on angry meetings of people
depend not on angry meetings of people shouting each other which is what most
shouting each other which is what most
shouting each other which is what most people will see the political engagement
people will see the political engagement
people will see the political engagement is being is going to depend on social
is being is going to depend on social
is being is going to depend on social and cultural gatherings of people once
and cultural gatherings of people once
and cultural gatherings of people once more reasserting community is going to
more reasserting community is going to
more reasserting community is going to depend on the recognition that we stand
depend on the recognition that we stand
depend on the recognition that we stand together or we fall apart
together or we fall apart
together or we fall apart thank you
”
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