Jed says:
...
Capitalism, communism, Feudalism, mercantalism and every other economic system
ever invented can be defined as:
A system to allocate human labor, goods and services.
Some of these systems have been efficient; others were inefficient. Some were
just; others were unjust, and still others tyrannical.
...
----
Well.
I'd like to comment on this a bit:
1) any economic system is embedded in a system of societal beliefs -- how the
world works --
2) a) ...human labor... is a western abstraction
b) ...goods... is a societal construct ('basic needs' being somewhat more
universal)
c) ...services... a modern concept applicable to societies western style.
A priest could be understood as providing a 'service'. For a shaman
or monk this is not so easy.
3) ...efficient... depends on the frame of reference, and has astong
teleological component. EG biosystems/ecosystems are often termed inefficient
-see photosynthesis being only 0.5 to 1% 'efficient'.
question: 'efficient' wrt what?
See:
..."A simple way of distinguishing between Efficiency and Effectiveness is the
saying, "Efficiency is doing things right, while Effectiveness is doing the
right things." This is based on the premise that selection of objectives of a
process are just as important as the quality of that process."...
(wikipedia)
cf also "the myth of the lazy native"
http://multiworldindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/THE-MYTH-OF-THE-LAZY-NATIVE.doc
or the collection of medicinal herbs in Tibet, where 'time' for collection and
preparation traditionally does not play any role and is not understandable
within the western conceptions of 'efficiency', 'labor' etc.
Sorry for being so picky.
Guenter
