In a general sense, we should stop tying to make history some sort of nice
anecdote, intetions organized around our own ego/self fulfillment. Theoretical
history should be composed of hypothectical/abstract statements that can be
utilized to describe historical reality as a process. This process exceeds the
repetoire of common knowledge and therefore must have a critical/hermeneutical
elelment, designed to see through our foreFathers ideological constructs. Here are
mine:
Cheers to Frank and Gills for starting and shame on them for not exploring all of
the implications of their recent findings. Human beings have existed in a symbolic
state for well-over 15,000 yrs. Regarding our condition, I accept some basic
sociological understandings: George Herbert Mead has described the process of
(socialization) becoming a human better than anyone, irregardless of very valid
critigue (especially in regards to the inherently conservative nature of SI). No
other has approached the sophistication of Mead. Persons have dug in graves and
extrapolated, yet still; one must deal with Meads ontology in order to properly
discuss theoretical history. Symbolic experience is primal to humanity.
Another who deserves respect is Buddha and Eastern philosophy in a general sense.
Life is one interconnected web; we must finally accept this; empirically,
theoretically, im lebenswelt! Anyways, now what? This does nothing outside of the
existential realm. Isn't there some structures that have been prevalent since the
very begining of "human beingness" (Here I'm referring to the symbolic nature of
human beings). Symbolism makes us human. This is crucial if we wish to
understand history or humanity. Hmm...What is symbolism? Isn't it experiencing
the word (mental construct), as oppossed to the thing itself?
Yes, and this is humanity's problem.
The antecedents of the 15,000 yr world system are planted firmly in the symbolic
soil of humaness. We are alienated from our environment and have been since the
dawn of symbolism. Alienation is equal to Buddhist "dislocation". We no longer
'experience the thing'. Rather we experience the word. This is not just some
tired rant about "cultural mediation of experience". The implications of this
thought pattern stretch deep in the very fabric of sociology and every human beings
existential experience. If one is desperate, as most are who oppose the capitalist
status quo, we can create in our minds a discreet capitalist system!
However if we employ a long term/historical the basic structures and patterns of
society becom more obvious and clear. You quickly learn that the hierarchical
structure of "capitalism" has its roots, if not its genesis, in the neolithic
revolution. Some may not be able to deal with the metaphysical aspects of this
posting, however, thats alright by me because WST's fundamental flaw is is lack of
a metaphysical/political/spiritual orientation. I think most remember Carl
Dassbach's inquiry as to whether WST's analysis was losing its criticl element. It
should sit in our souls yelling at us until we accept its condemnation of academia.
Only Terry Boswell responded. Probably the most important question posed on this
list. Who would beg to differ?
WST has forgotten the essential element of historical materialism: Class Struggle.
I'll leave just this one assertion open because it has the kind of self-evident
validity that; so simple that it actually introduces complexity beyond the
boundaries of the current disscussion. To put it straight: Gunder is leading a
path that even he can't comprehend. Actually Sanderson, Moldeski, Chase-Dunn,
McNeil, etc...., have all located structural conditions that prevail throughout
human history. The incompleteness of these approaches is probably best explained
by the narrow "Western" perspective employed. Yet the Eastern approacches fall
short on exaclty the Western strength: Structural Patterns! Once this Juxtapostion
has been thouroughly developed, we shall have the richest understanding of our
condition possible at this time. I'll suggest a few things:
1. Human beings are alienated/dislocated from their interdependency with their
social/natural environments.
2. Alienatiion leads to seperation leading to individualism and self interest.
3. Self-Interest (the result of socializaton-per Mead!) is the micro-level
foundation to the neolithic "agrarian" societies and so-called "captitalist"
society.
4. The antecedents of structural formation in human beings are to be found in the
process of becomin human: Socialization.
What are the eschatalogical implications of such a postion? Niether Frank nor
Wallerstein have dealt with what WST means to the lives of those who do and don't
understand it. How do humans create meaning in This! World System? Whats wrong
with the system and and how do we affect it for the better.
I don't care what -chronic approach we take, however lets accept commonality in the
face of difference (and vice-versa) or we go nowhere. The structural antecedents
to accumulation are humanities symbolic nature: and these are the headwaters of the
world system.
Enlighntenment and Communism look like hand and glove from here!
Sincerely,
Christian Harlow
UC Santa Cruz
harlowc@tidepool.com