[throwaway894345]

> I think you can genericize it a bit and say humans are bad at defining themselves and need a reference point

I don't think the error is in defining ourselves by what sets us apart--it's fine and good to acknowledge our differences. I think the bad thing is leaning into those differences due to an aversion to the outgroup, which is the very essence of tribalism (or nearly so).

[eightysixfour]

Apologies, I was too soft at that point when I wrote it. He does not suggest we merely acknowledge our differences, he suggests we literally define ourselves as opposites of others.

He also does not assign a property of good or bad to this observation, just that we do it.