Mokokoma Mokhonoana: Papers
on Thursday, May 14, 2020Mokokoma Mokhonoana Money Quote saying that as society advanced, the human condition has become about representations instead of sustaining ourselves. Mokokoma Mokhonoana said:
“Civilization transformed man from a food gatherer to a gatherer of pieces of paper: diplomas, employment contracts, money, etc.” — Mokokoma Mokhonoana
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This quote suggests that modern civilization has changed humans from focusing primarily on gathering sustenance like food, to instead gathering various documents and representations of value like diplomas, employment contracts, and money.
Mokokoma Mokhonoana seems to be pointing out that as society became more complex and specialized, people’s occupations and livelihoods transitioned from directly procuring nourishment to pursuing education credentials, jobs, and monetary compensation that can then be exchanged for food and goods.
In other words, according to this perspective, civilization has transformed humans from directly collecting food as hunter-gatherers to indirectly acquiring the means of procuring food and services through paperwork and paper currency that symbolize qualifications, employment, and purchasing power.