sophiaserpentia: (Default)
sophiaserpentia ([personal profile] sophiaserpentia) wrote2004-12-03 07:39 am

(no subject)

An "idle thought" inspired by the conversion on my recent entries about pleasure restriction.

Human civilization is only possible because we are predators.

[identity profile] sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com 2004-12-03 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
There are always exceptions, but if civilizations that weren't stratified existed at one time, the fact that they don't exist anymore might be itself demonstration of the truth of my assertion. Egalitarian cities would find it hard to compete economically against neighboring cities who were willing to put slaves to work in the fields, and who have the machinery in place to force all of the males over, say, 13, to pick up a sword and go out into battle.

Stratification boils down to the threat of violence -- as those who oppose it often discover when the latent violence becomes overt. So, yeah, stratification is hand-in-hand with oppression.

[identity profile] azaz-al.livejournal.com 2004-12-03 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I am confusing stratification with specialization, probably.
Damn terns, gulls, etc... :)