Participating in society =/= social climbing

I prefer to say that humans are not very efficient at organizing. We’re just the most efficient so far for general problems.

That is true it is a big part of society and how to get along, and you would think that because this is one of the foundations of this society it would be a bigger part of someone's education. This shouldn't be something people should have to figure out on their own in order to feed themselves and their family

One semester of Schmooze 101 could go along way in helping an awkward yet brilliant scientist get the funding they need.

Well there are two alternatives that let you not do it. We either die of starvation alone and isolated, never cooperating with anyone. Or we club and bomb each other away in endless fight and war over resources. I like the being diplomatic, political and deliberative way much better than either of these, even if it can seem a bit hypocritical and tiring some times.

Living in a society is not the same thing as one specific set of rules to play by. The author isn't saying that we shouldn't be coordinating or discussing with each other. As I understand it, they are arguing against valuing people based on their social capital instead of their actual knowledge. Because what is science's worth if it isn't based on knowledge but how well you can lick boots? How often is science inhibited by some old dude abusing his power until he dies. Science progresses one funeral at a time. Does it necessarily have to be that way or could we possibly find a better way to organize ourselves?

Even if you do start your own sovereign country, once you have more than one person you have to play politics. It's just the human condition