Political Science 2237E Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Gift Economy, Conspicuous Consumption, Usury

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 2237E
• Professor: Richard Vanderweetering

Document Summary

Humans have a ruling, or rational proportion, a courageous & honour seeking portion to our personality, and an appetitive portion. The (cid:862)polis(cid:863) is di(cid:448)ided i(cid:374) a similar fashion; leaders (rational), soldiers (courageous), and the producer (the appetizer). (cid:862)agathos(cid:863): this is the refere(cid:374)(cid:272)e to a perso(cid:374)/group/leader respo(cid:374)si(cid:271)le for the (cid:449)elfare, prosperity, etc. of society. Most of our literature was written by the wealthy or the upper class. Economy: the gift and profit economy. Gift economy: the accumulation of money is not the goal money does not define wealth. What people do want to accumulate in homeric greece is either status, or honour. They spend to reveal their status to others. This is a world of conspicuous consumption (a giving relationship). By doing so, you maintain relationships with other people by giving gifts to others, etc. They would give gifts to their allies, enemies, gods, the dead, etc. in hope that they will get something back thus, building a name for yourself.