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Interesting that you mention "the tribe" as basic unit of society. We have abandoned the concept of tribalism gradually in favour of (1.) feudalism, (2.) absolu
by maze-le 10y ago
Interesting that you mention "the tribe" as basic unit of society. We have abandoned the concept of tribalism gradually in favour of (1.) feudalism, (2.) absolute monarchy and finally (3.) the nation state. Today, we don't have to deal with "the development of the tribe", because the greater family has become utterly unimportant [wich is a good thing IMO, because we can focus on more important issues].
Moreover most tribal societies in Western/Central Europe up until the 7th century -- in Scandinavia until the 10th century -- were polygamous. Some of these societies were highly successful. The Vikings for example weren't just barbarous brutes and pirates, but also tradesmen and farmers with highly sophisticated technologies like metallurgy, coinage and shipbuilding.
So no, I don't think that "Civilization is built on monogamy". If anything, monogamy as a family model is built on the roman church, and it's the heritage of the roman church our society is based upon.
- Pica_soO 10y agoEh, the nation-state is a tribe? Feudalism was a tribe? monarchy is a tribe with a soap opera? Todays tribes are companys, soccer clubs and nation states?
- maze-le 10y agoWhat? no of course not. I just tried to illustrate that the social contract evolved over a very long time period, and that the greater family -- ie the tribe -- plays no part in the social contract of todays society.
- Pica_soO 10y agoYes, the human species gets updated and advanced every Friday. A completely new species, new ethics, more cultured and well behaved. Not just a ape bribed with a banana to be quiet. Never before has it happened, that those wishing for this to be true, just plugged there ears and eyes, hoping for dreams to become true by wishing and praying, slammed into the ugly reality of old meatware (Weimar). I agree with the goals in general, but is it really so tough, to accept what is, and work within the limits of the brittle, old mangine you got, instead of dreaming up a "new human" and singing loud enough to not hear the flying gears? PS: The Vikings are a nice example of non-islamic jihadism, aka dumping of excessive youth in violent campaigns in the neighbours tribe backyard?
- jessaustin 10y agoWhy would one think "the nation state" is the "final" form? Can our society not adapt further?
- maze-le 10y agoWith "finally", i just meant, that it is what we arrived with in the here and now. It is by no means final, it's just our current form of social contract. It is also far from perfect, but I consider it better than most forms of government we came up with.