Original Affluent Society
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
Hunter-gatherer societies are not as we imagine, constantly struggling for survival. In reality, they work very short hours (3-4 hours a day), have plenty of leisure time, and have few desires that are easily satisfied. Affluence is a state where means exceed desires.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Reflect on scarcity. Modern people's "sense of poverty" stems from the unlimited expansion of desires (modernity creates scarcity). By lowering the baseline of desires (living like primitive people), we can instantly gain "time affluence."
Anchor fast decisions
Anthropologist Sahlins pointed out that affluence = ratio of means to desires; hunter-gatherers have few desires and easily satisfied needs, so despite material simplicity they are "affluent," while modern people have desires infinitely manufactured, thus falling into a sense of scarcity.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/4Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_affluent_societyverified
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