There's a book by Eisler called "The Chalice and the Blade." It's an anthropological/archeological exposition on how human societies moved from a partnership model executed by both genders to a form of Patriarchy rooted in violence. Though she's not an economist, the book does a great job of tracing out the migration and organization of cultures towards perpetual war footing.
As societies grew in population size, they inevitably came into contact with one another. Though she doesn't focus too much on the issue of scarcity and competition, she does trace how mythologies - useful myths - changed through time. As tribes became more adversarial, the male dieties were given lots of weapons while females in many pantheons were relegated to the background. From a practical point of view - and Eisler says this herself - women were not physically equipped to engage in melee combat with high rates of survival or success. So, these pantheon changed to reflect the need to attack and defend...
Fast forward to present day and then you start wondering if human economies are just ways to express natural selection. Quite a leap, perhaps, but IMO there's plenty of historical evidence to support the "truism" that tribalism isn't going away anytime soon. But!
Technology, ingenuity, and human capital have been the factors that spur societal and/or economic momentum. I won't use the word progress because I think we've got a long way to go before tribalism breathes its last breath.
great comments on the inflation data, john. analyzing the effects of tribal conflicts is a noble objective. may take longer to get (y)our arms around than we have left. go get 'em tiger! best, swk
Re: the last paragraphs on Tribal Conflict.
There's a book by Eisler called "The Chalice and the Blade." It's an anthropological/archeological exposition on how human societies moved from a partnership model executed by both genders to a form of Patriarchy rooted in violence. Though she's not an economist, the book does a great job of tracing out the migration and organization of cultures towards perpetual war footing.
As societies grew in population size, they inevitably came into contact with one another. Though she doesn't focus too much on the issue of scarcity and competition, she does trace how mythologies - useful myths - changed through time. As tribes became more adversarial, the male dieties were given lots of weapons while females in many pantheons were relegated to the background. From a practical point of view - and Eisler says this herself - women were not physically equipped to engage in melee combat with high rates of survival or success. So, these pantheon changed to reflect the need to attack and defend...
Fast forward to present day and then you start wondering if human economies are just ways to express natural selection. Quite a leap, perhaps, but IMO there's plenty of historical evidence to support the "truism" that tribalism isn't going away anytime soon. But!
Technology, ingenuity, and human capital have been the factors that spur societal and/or economic momentum. I won't use the word progress because I think we've got a long way to go before tribalism breathes its last breath.
Awesome article John...can't wait to get your take on the impact of Tribal Conflict, which IMHO is THE biggest issue now upon us !!
great comments on the inflation data, john. analyzing the effects of tribal conflicts is a noble objective. may take longer to get (y)our arms around than we have left. go get 'em tiger! best, swk
Can you review the current administration