[FRIAM] means of production take 3

[Gary Schiltz]

Is your paper available?

On Mon, Nov 25, 2019 at 7:11 AM Prof David West <profwest at fastmail.fm>
wrote:

> Some comments that might be intrusive (in which case, I apologize and
> please ignore) or contributory as context to the "ownership" discussion.
>
> Two-years ago I presented a paper, "Patterns of Humanity," at a social
> change conference. Part of the paper dealt with "economics," — in.
> quotation marks because not all of economics, but practical efforts to set
> up alternative mechanisms for economic exchange.
>
> All systems of exchange can be derived from three human/cultural patterns
> of reciprocity: general, balanced, and negative. Simplified: General is
> akin to parent-child, value is given with little regard for "repayment"
> except in very general and delayed terms (kids take care of their parents
> in old age); Balanced is implied by the name, exchange occurs but is
> balanced among all members of the group - with remarkably precise awareness
> of any imbalances, (we all know which of us missed their turn to buy a
> round of drinks when we are out partying); Negative is both sides trying to
> maximize benefit at the expense of the other party.
>
> The key factor in viability of each type is social distance; general
> within family, balanced among small groups, and negative the only one that
> scales and includes strangers.
>
> Markets can be based on balanced reciprocity, but only at relative small
> scale, e.g. the village or a community like the Amish.
>
> Almost all markets with which we are familiar and within which we
> participate are grounded in negative reciprocity. Because these are focused
> on asymmetric outcomes; they are enhanced by asymmetry with regard the
> factors of the mechanism of exchange. Two of the most common are asymmetry
> with regards information and asymmetry with regards power.
>
> A concept of "ownership" is but a tool for establishing or enhancing an
> asymmetry of power.
>
> Like Markets, a "Commons" can be grounded in balanced or negative
> reciprocity. The possibility of a "balanced" Commons is constrained, by
> social distance. The only way to ensure the minimal social distance
> necessary for a balanced Commons is some kind of overriding Culture. So it
> works just fine in groups with a strong defining culture like the Amish,
> Mennonites, and pre-statehood Mormon communities.
>
> Commons derived from negative reciprocity are doomed to "failure."
>
> davew
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 21, 2019, at 8:36 PM, Marcus Daniels wrote:
> > Nick writes:
> >
> > <  Dogs seem to have (or enact) a concept of ownership.  >
> >
> > Just have to bite on this one:   My cattle dog seems to think of her
> > collar as jewelry.   If I take it off she chases after me and tries to
> > get it back.
> >
> > < This scheme is known as altruistic enforcement because from a
> > Darwinian modeling point of view, it's hard to see why the dominant
> > individuals -- the soldiers, if you will -- don't pool their resources
> > and take down the Don. >
> >
> > Each would have to believe the new boss would be better than the old
> > boss, that it wouldn't be them, and that someone will be the boss.
> > They've invested in an organization that has a pecking order, and so it
> > would be dangerous to suddenly abandon it in favor of a looser cabal:
> > Everyone beneath each of them might do the same.
> >
> > Marcus
> >
> >
> >
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>
> ============================================================
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