Man v. Nature
“Thus with the advent of agriculture an élite became better off, but most people became worse off. Instead of swallowing the progressivist party line that we chose agriculture because it was good for us, we must ask how we got trapped by it despite its pitfalls.”[1]
Pinpointing the origin of social systems is simple, the agricultural revolution provided humanity not only with the ability to store food; this is the first time humanity sought to hoard and protect resources. This was our first step into the materialistic world. Having something to protect, to hold on to, creates a need for defense, property rights, and power over societies. Authority steps in and spares us the quest for self-actualization and tells us our roles in this ideological body. Furthermore, agriculture sets up a self-sustaining cycle where technological progress is viewed as the only buttress between prosperity and starvation/death. This is because populations grow to the limits of their food supply. No matter how much food is produced, the group will grow to meet the current level and the same problem is faced again and again without end. Agriculture forces a new problem on any society which engages in it unthinkingly, that those in positions of power over proclaim, “we have the innovation to save you from certain death, only we can protect you from the harshness of nature.” The main players in recent social system history (Capitalism and Communism) have gone about this with different strategies, but ultimately make the same promises of protection and security. Yet, in time, the same problems arise.
Power-over societies rely on the concepts of scarcity and fear as they are necessary to create a populace which will willingly hand over power. The world becomes much too big and complicated to take on as an individual, family or tribe. It is much easier to hand over this responsibility to a larger entity so that we may live our lives peacefully inside. Nature no longer provides for us, our government, our infrastructure, now keeps us fed, sheltered and warm. Nature is cold and ruthless, and those who choose it over society are either savages, hermits or sociopaths. We feel righteous in the achievements of civilization, and build monuments in self-congratulation. Look at all the art, education and beauty our culture has achieved, and we surmise, this must be a result of our social system. It provides for our every need so that we may engage our minds in harnessing the powers of the universe. We have, after all, even unlocked the power of the atom. Our bodies come to represent this dirty connection with nature and must also be controlled. We set ourselves apart from nature, calling it “civilization,” and we are so well mannered, so well corseted and so well groomed. Sex is suppressed, the feminine is dominated, and our bodies are covered. Civilization’s destiny is rise to above these base and primitive things, to become the architects of the universe. We do not want to be reminded of our animal natures, we want to be gods.
[1] Jared Diamond, “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race,” Discover Magazine (May 1987): 64-66.