Chris, Some 127 years ago Henry George described his "Law of Human progress".
He said that civilizations thrived under conditions of "Association in Equality". Thus, with regard to Association, he said: "Since isolated people have less ability to propagate progress, 'association is the first essential of progress.' The association of people in communities permits the division of labor and all the economies which come with the co-operation of increased numbers... Improvement becomes possible as men come together in peaceful association, and the wider and closer the association, the greater the possibilities of improvement (p. 508)." George recognized that "commerce, which is in itself a form of association or co-operation, operates to promote civilization, not only directly, but by building up interests which are opposed to warfare, and dispelling the ignorance which is the fertile mother of prejudices and animosities" (p. 512). With regard to equality George points out the relationship of conflict to injustice. Since conflict draws time and energy away from progressive pursuits, a peaceful community will make more progress than one in conflict, and although conflict can generate improvements in the art of war, these improvements are potentially dangerous to civilization and progress. Conflict includes "internal resistances ... which can alone explain how a civilization once fairly started should either come of itself to a halt or be destroyed by barbarians" (p. 513). George notes that conflict "becomes greater or less as the moral law which accords to each an equality of rights is ignored or is recognized." Therefore, "equality (or justice) is the second essential of progress." Justice - "the recognition of the moral law - prevents the dissipation of this power in fruitless struggles" (p. 508). I have used Fred Foldvary's comments on the Law of Human Progress as set out in his "The Science of Economics" but completely to examine George's ideas, one must read the last chapters of progress and Poverty. Harry -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christoph Reuss Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 11:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] The 80 - 20 Fallacy > Both history and modern experience tell us that highly unequal societies > also tend to be highly corrupt. > > and (arthur adds) > > such a degree of inequality creates the conditions for social instability. Corruption and instability offer great opportunities for predators. That's why predators foster inequality. Chris _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
