Two functions Harari highlights are the telling of myths and gossip.
Communicating abstract thought and passing on histories through the telling of myths allowed Homo sapiens to learn from their mistakes. It also paved the way for the invention of stories, or myths. Humans invented stories about gods in...
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the stars, afterlives and spirits. They used these first to try to understand the past and future, and then to engender and cultivate fear in the hearts and minds of others. Myths ultimately helped to build religious communities.
The practice of gossiping is fundamental to community building. Its modern negative reputation notwithstanding, gossiping allowed a community to keep track of its members without each member having to go through the motions of communicating with every other member. It allowed for the summation and interpretation of others and encouraged compassion, empathy, and deeper bonding. Gossiping has helped us to form expansive social communities.