4 ms·

That's not even remotely true. Nothing about us is inherent to bartering. That's of course relying on the assumption that we would get rid of money entirely as

• b112 4y ago
  Bartering is an offshoot of "fairness". Even dogs, crows get upset, if treated unfairly. There are experiments where giving desired treats, unfairly, causes these animals(monkeys too), to exhibit outrage. EG, giving some to one animal, and less desirable treats to another. Bartering is an offshoot of "being fair". I "worked" to make this thing, but now I need a thing you have. You worked for it. Each of us spent time, effort, work, but how much, who spent more? We negotiate. We settle. This is bartering. And at the root of this, is fairness. And even animals, inherently, know this.
  • anonymouskimmer 4y ago
    Right. Tax, whether to a government, or to an employer, is the beginnings of unfairness. Taxes can be used for fairness (enforced savings for everyone for the winter), and as a form of barter (military protection), but the value gained by singular authorities makes things disproportionately unfair. I guess maybe the taxation is not the problem, it's the centralization of the taxed wealth to particular figures in the government (nobles) or corporations (shareholders and executives).
  • kubanczyk 4y ago
    > giving desired treats, unfairly, causes these animals(monkeys too), to exhibit outrage This mechanism might stem from offspring times when they were receiving food/care from parents. I wouldn't connect it with barter, as these species do not exchange any goods.