Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site teddy.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!panda!teddy!lkk From: lkk@teddy.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics.theory Subject: Re: Explorations of "social-interest": Origins of Human Society Message-ID: <858@teddy.UUCP> Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 13:27:48 EDT Article-I.D.: teddy.858 Posted: Tue Jul 2 13:27:48 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:17:18 EDT References: <373@spar.UUCP> <2380067@acf4.UUCP> Reply-To: lkk@teddy.UUCP (Larry K. Kolodney) Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass. Lines: 24 Summary: In article <2380067@acf4.UUCP> mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) writes: >>/* theory / baba@spar.UUCP (Baba ROM DOS) / 12:02 pm Jun 28, 1985 */ > >>Can you cite a single instance of a lasting human society (not a club >>or other special-interest organization) being formed by the rational >>agreement of otherwise atomic human beings? > >I suppose that the beginnings of society were formed out of a common >interest of men. But even if they weren't, it seems clear that at >least in modern times society continues to evolve because men seek to >better their condition thru mutual cooperation. Consider how many men (or women) actually make conscious decisions about the future of society. Most people are born into a society, and live by its rules as the default behavior. Societies seem to change in ways which can't be predicted by using only rational self-interest as a motivating force. -- Sport Death, Larry Kolodney (USENET) ...decvax!genrad!teddy!lkk (INTERNET) lkk@mit-mc