"When opponents are evenly matched, the element of surprise—catching an opponent off guard—can provide a decisive advantage."
I’m not sure if this anecdote comes from Sutherland, but I remember someone discussing how certain superstitions or irrational behaviors, passed down through tradition, serve as survival techniques to maintain unpredictability. One example was a tribe that decided the direction of their attack based on the flight patterns of birds.
This idea is similar to how a hare evades predators by running in a seemingly random pattern. This technique is most effective when the movements are truly random and not consciously controlled by the hare. If the hare were aware of its pattern and planned its next move, its body language could become too predictable for the predator. Over time, hares with greater self awareness might be at a disadvantage, leading to a population that includes descendants with less self knowledge.
In a parallel way, humans may have evolved from ancestors who excelled at concealing their motives, not just from outsiders but from themselves as well.
"When opponents are evenly matched, the element of surprise—catching an opponent off guard—can provide a decisive advantage."
I’m not sure if this anecdote comes from Sutherland, but I remember someone discussing how certain superstitions or irrational behaviors, passed down through tradition, serve as survival techniques to maintain unpredictability. One example was a tribe that decided the direction of their attack based on the flight patterns of birds.
This idea is similar to how a hare evades predators by running in a seemingly random pattern. This technique is most effective when the movements are truly random and not consciously controlled by the hare. If the hare were aware of its pattern and planned its next move, its body language could become too predictable for the predator. Over time, hares with greater self awareness might be at a disadvantage, leading to a population that includes descendants with less self knowledge.
In a parallel way, humans may have evolved from ancestors who excelled at concealing their motives, not just from outsiders but from themselves as well.
I do recall a Sutherland diatribe on the subject. Nice connection.