WSN and the human nature debates

Fri, 10 May 1996 12:41:05 -0400 (EDT)
Bill Haller (wxhst3+@pitt.edu)

To Andy in particular,

I can't help but think if you knew more of the world-systems literature
you'd have a better sense of what the people on this list know and do not
know. No one needs to be burdened with arguments against positions they
don't even subscribe to because that just gets pedantic. If our earlier
exchange started leading you to think that there's a reactionary behind
every corner who needs to be rooted out and exposed, even here on WSN,
then I apologize for that. (After all, it's not the least bit fun thinking
you're alone in your social morality.) The overwhelming majority of people
on this list probably take a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction in
working hard for the common good.

To WSN more generally,

I have to say there is something I liked about seeing a discussion of
"human nature" on WSN: the micro-level issues are important for how the
macro-level dynamics play out. Take the issue of conflict among core
states for example. What core state could rally the national political
will necessary to initiate a war against other core powers if its people
were basically content? I haven't dug into whatever literature there
may be on economic recession, populist social movements, and militarism
but that thesis involves a link to the micro level, at least implicitly.
I understand that anthropologists (such as Marvin Harris, or am I
mistaken?) have observed that this also happens at the level of local
ecosystems: as nutrients in the soil are depleted, harder work with the
digging stick or the hoe is required to harvest the same yield. The
human response, after some threshhold of declining efficiency is passed,
is to go make war on the tribe in the next valley (plowshares into
swords, as it were). I'd appreciate corrections and comments from those
who know more about this line of reasoning, especially those who see a
relation between the B-phases of K-waves and the outbreak of conflicts
among core powers. That's enough of my amateurish sociological dabbling
for today--back to production on my dissertation (a somewhat more
professional effort, or so I hope).

Eat heartily and smile for goodness sake!

Bill Haller
Sociology, Pitt

P.S. For those who haven't heard, Stephan Roach, Wall Street economist (and
long-time apologist for corporate restructuring as I understand) announced
recently that he changed his mind about restructuring and that he has now
embraced the "hollowing out" thesis (a la Harrison and Bluestone). He
admitted some concern about the consequences of so many working so much
harder for so much less. (The concern he expressed is about social order
and stability, of course, and not the exploitation of workers).