Only humans achieved ultra-sociality within the last 12,000 years

Evidence

In contrast to other examples of ultrasociality19–22 (for example, clones, bee hives or termite colonies), human cooperation is due less to kin selection than to cultural forces rooted in pervasive moral systems. From hunter tribes and village communities to nation states and global enterprises, the economic effects of nepotism, although certainly present, are minor compared with those of reciprocity. — Nowak, M. A., & Sigmund, K, Evolution of Indirect Reciprocity by…, 6 (#expands, via linked claim)

Individuation of personality, on the one hand, and the influences, interests, and relationships that attach the personality to its social circle, on the other hand, show a pattern of interdependent development that appears in the most diverse historical and institutional setting as a typical form. Individuality in being and action generally increases to the degree that the social circle encompassing the individual expands. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 591 (#expands, via linked claim)

Altogether consistently, in contrast to the above cases, extreme individuality has frequently been associated with the doctrine of the equality of all men. It is, psychologically speaking, quite obvious that the frightful inequality into which the individual was born during certain epochs of social history would elicit a reaction along two lines, one leading in the direction of the right to individuality, and the other toward the right to universal equality, since either of these alone tends to be inadequate in the same degree for the broader masses. Only in this dualistic connection can a phenomenon such as Rousseau be understood. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 687 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Human ultrasociality rests on cultural moral systems and reciprocity rather than kin selection. — Nowak, M. A., & Sigmund, K, Evolution of Indirect Reciprocity by…, 6; Most of human history was lived in small worlds lacking anonymity — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 39; Cultural evolution can lock groups into maladaptive equilibria, not just prosocial ones (+2 more)

Related

• Human ultrasociality rests on cultural moral systems and reciprocity rather than kin selection. (similarity 0.84)
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality (similarity 0.80)
• Rising individuality necessarily yields belief in mankind’s ideal unity (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Human ultrasociality rests on cultural moral systems and reciprocity rather than kin selection. #expands (0.80) — Nowak, M. A., & Sigmund, K, Evolution of Indirect Reciprocity by…, 6
• Individuality increases as the social circle expands #expands (0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 591
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality #expands (0.73) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 687
• Most of human history was lived in small worlds lacking anonymity #qualifies (0.72) — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 39
• Cultural evolution can lock groups into maladaptive equilibria, not just prosocial ones #qualifies (0.72)