SOCPSY 2L03 Chapter 1-10: The Future of an Illusion (Whole Book)
Document Summary
The concept of civilization is associated with a built-up knowledge base about extracting wealth"" or otherwise useful things from nature. The concept of civilization is associated with a set of rules for controlling (a) those actions of people which affect other people, and (b) the distribution of wealth among people. These two associated things (the knowledge base and the rule set) are not independent of one another. There are three reasons why this is so: Relations between people are influenced by the degree to which a person is instinctually satisfied. (instincts are part of nature. ) People themselves have value, either by the work they perform or by their personal characteristics, such as sexuality, persona, etc. Each person is an enemy of civilization; civilization must therefore be protected from individuals and groups. [note: civilization is sometimes the enemy of the individual. ] Point 3, above, requires that civilization be designed to maintain the current distribution of wealth.