An objective study of modern western society would reveal it to be deeply rooted in and dependent upon mankind's animal nature and behaviour patterns that evolved over millions of years to serve his survival in circumstances completely different from those we live in today (see my first post, above). This is unsurprising, if we had the courage to face up to it, in view of what Charles Darwin is supposed to have taught us about human origins.

What is true for society in general, is also true for the economy in particular, which developed, naturally enough, to serve, exploit and depend on our animal nature (our animal fears, desires, competitiveness, etc), and for our (even democratic) political structures.

We are naturally inclined to believe the name given to us by 18th Century science, Homo sapiens (wise or rational man), but this is a long (and dangerous) way from the truth. There is a spark of wisdom and rationality in some of us some of the time, but collectively, at least, we are still very much dominated by our pretty blind and dumb animal nature, which, as individuals, we are under great pressure to follow, even when we would like to act more wisely and humanely instead, because the existing socio-economic structures, being rooted in our animal nature, require us to (thus the aptly named "rat race", for example, which many would like to escape, but cannot).

Recognition of the above, if taken seriously, would undermine the power structures on which society - especially those in authority, wealth and privilege - depends, so it is no wonder that no one dares take sociology too seriously, or that sociologists use much of their prodigious intelligence to avoid and distract from, rather than discover and face up to, the truth. Which is more than their niche in the "socio-economic environment" would be worth.

2nd Post:

An objective study of modern western society would reveal it to be deeply rooted in and dependent upon mankind's animal nature and behaviour patterns that evolved over millions of years to serve his survival in circumstances completely different from those we live in today (see my first post, above). This is unsurprising, if we had the courage to face up to it, in view of what Charles Darwin is supposed to have taught us about human origins.

What is true for society in general, is also true for the economy in particular, which developed, naturally enough, to serve, exploit and depend on our animal nature (our animal fears, desires, competitiveness, etc), and for our (even democratic) political structures.

We are naturally inclined to believe the name given to us by 18th Century science, Homo sapiens (wise or rational man), but this is a long (and dangerous) way from the truth. There is a spark of wisdom and rationality in some of us some of the time, but collectively, at least, we are still very much dominated by our pretty blind and dumb animal nature, which, as individuals, we are under great pressure to follow, even when we would like to act more wisely and humanely instead, because the existing socio-economic structures, being rooted in our animal nature, require us to (thus the aptly named "rat race", for example, which many would like to escape, but cannot).

Recognition of the above, if taken seriously, would undermine the power structures on which society - especially those in authority, wealth and privilege - depends, so it is no wonder that no one dares take sociology too seriously, or that sociologists use much of their prodigious intelligence to avoid and distract from, rather than discover and face up to, the truth. Which is more than their niche in the "socio-economic environment" would be worth.

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