The Conflict Between Imagination and Reality

I’ve recently revisited “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari, a book I first encountered three years ago.

Harari provides an unvarnished perspective on human history, categorizing our evolution into four key revolutions:

1. The Cognitive Revolution (c. 70,000 BCE, when Sapiens developed imagination).
2. The Agricultural Revolution (c. 10,000 BCE, the advent of agriculture).
3. The unification of humankind (the gradual merging of human political entities towards a single global empire).
4. The Scientific Revolution (c. 1500 CE, the rise of objective science).

Let’s fast-forward to today’s struggle: the tension between the cognitive and scientific revolutions.

Imagination: The Power of Creativity and Storytelling

According to Harari, much of what we consider life stems from our imagination. Our values—family, friendship, love, and wealth—are all constructs born from our capacity for thought.

Creativity has brought order to our lives, yet it is our storytelling ability that fundamentally shapes our worldview.

Take the allure of winning the lottery, for instance. It’s a narrative that invites us to envision a life of endless riches.

Since the cognitive revolution, our storytelling has evolved, allowing more individuals to hear and accept these tales. However, this was challenged by the scientific revolution...

Science: The Challenger of Narratives

Since the 1500s, science has played a crucial role in debunking false narratives, such as the belief in a flat Earth.

The tale of the lottery winner is similarly enchanting—a fantasy of sudden wealth and fulfilled dreams. But science has dismantled that dream.

While someone inevitably wins, the likelihood of it being you or me is minimal—1 in 139,838,160 isn’t a promising prospect.

This brings us to the current landscape of marketing...

Exploitation in the Modern World

Our expanding knowledge of science has facilitated significant growth and advancement.

However, this knowledge is often misused, which is where the issue arises. In a society where we understand that winning the lottery is a near impossibility, why do we continue to exploit this concept?

Why do we prey on individuals—particularly those unaware of loss aversion? Given the dismal odds, why do we permit this game to persist?

It’s one thing to allow the game to continue, but should we still perpetuate a narrative where victory is merely a matter of chance?

Fairness: A Need for Protection

We now possess greater awareness, yet we still permit this to carry on.

I recognize that the lottery is a form of gambling, adding complexity to this discussion. Additionally, I acknowledge that in some regions, lottery revenues support charitable causes.

Does this make it more acceptable? I don't believe so.

Human history is rich with narratives, helping us perceive the world as a better place, even when it isn’t.

These stories help us navigate our existence, making us feel more than mere observers in life. But at what juncture do we acknowledge scientific truths and move forward?

In light of this, we should reconsider the marketing of the lottery and its exploitative nature. In our civilized society, isn’t this the very least we can do?

We must determine which narratives are appropriate to share with ourselves and others.

I advocate for ending the false hopes fostered by lottery marketing. We have the chance to tell a more truthful story—one that benefits everyone, not just a select few.

Section 1.1: The Role of Marketing Ethics

Section 1.2: The Importance of Scientific Understanding