[MD] The MOQ, Pathogens, and Individualism

[Krimel]

[Arlo]
I think the conclusion is a bit reductionist, and way to simplistic. 
But we can add "pathogens" to a host of biological patterns that, in 
any given local environment, contributed to the particularities of 
the emerging cultural patterns, which of course structure the 
subsequent intellectual patterns. While I doubt its possible (or even 
think it fruitful) to so drastically attempt to isolate one 
biological pattern as the "cause" of a subsequent intellectual 
pattern, I think the process highlights how potentially drastically 
different intellectual patterns may be rooted in relatively minor 
fluctuations on the biological level, and also how structured we must 
remember our intellectual patterns are.

[Krimel]
I found it interesting that they pictured the individual-collective split
along north south lines while I have always thought of it as more of an east
west thing. Certainly it would be extreme to say that relative exposure to
diseases causes social structures to be a certain way but it is easy to see
how it could have an influence.