I don't know where this viewpoint comes from where, even though a cursory look at history gives counter evidence. We have ample anthropological evidence of societies engaging in labor that is beyond eat, cloth and shelter.
The biggest such evidences are still there: The pyramids and other huge monuments, which took 100s of thousands or more of manhours to build. Many cultures had temples with ample evidence that people spent a lot of time engaging in religious activities there. Everywhere you evacuate, you see art pieces that had to be made by people spending time. The dead were often buried with weapons and food. There is plenty of evidence of people engaging in massive yearly festivals with lots of food, drinks and music.
How is all of this happening if humans were like cattle spending all their looking for food?
The pyramids is a perfect example of an elite few exploiting the labor of many. All that labor to build tombs for a small handful of people looking for an advantage in the after-life.
Sure, in some places and times there was enough slack to allow common people to celebrate festivals or partake in elaborate religious activities. But I think you underestimate how costly education was when every book had to be painstakingly copied by hand.
The biggest such evidences are still there: The pyramids and other huge monuments, which took 100s of thousands or more of manhours to build. Many cultures had temples with ample evidence that people spent a lot of time engaging in religious activities there. Everywhere you evacuate, you see art pieces that had to be made by people spending time. The dead were often buried with weapons and food. There is plenty of evidence of people engaging in massive yearly festivals with lots of food, drinks and music.
How is all of this happening if humans were like cattle spending all their looking for food?