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Sneer · 01-14-2009, 10:37 PM

If anybody has read Sahlins' Stone Age Economics, in it focuses on The Original Affluent Society - in which he basically says hunter-gatherer societies live a much happier life based on the fact they want for less because they want less (in a nutshell). They exert less energy than those of us in modern western society because of their relatively low needs, and are healthier and happier for it. Hobbes' theory that man resorts to a state of conflict because of desire and continual jealousies doesnt really wash with me. Human beings are naturally gregarious creatures. We've had to be, its a survival mechanism. Cooperation was vital to the cohesion of the group and consequent survival.

01-14-2009, 10:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,397	If anybody has read Sahlins' Stone Age Economics, in it focuses on The Original Affluent Society - in which he basically says hunter-gatherer societies live a much happier life based on the fact they want for less because they want less (in a nutshell). They exert less energy than those of us in modern western society because of their relatively low needs, and are healthier and happier for it. Hobbes' theory that man resorts to a state of conflict because of desire and continual jealousies doesnt really wash with me. Human beings are naturally gregarious creatures. We've had to be, its a survival mechanism. Cooperation was vital to the cohesion of the group and consequent survival. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show Last edited by Sneer; 01-14-2009 at 10:46 PM.