Comments on: Harbinger Vol. 3 No. 1 — Buttercups and Sunflowers: On the Evolution of First and Second Nature http://www.social-ecology.org/2002/09/harbinger-vol-3-no-1-buttercups-and-sunflowers-on-the-evolution-of-first-and-second-nature/ Popular Education for a Free Society Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:21:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: John H. Schmitz http://www.social-ecology.org/2002/09/harbinger-vol-3-no-1-buttercups-and-sunflowers-on-the-evolution-of-first-and-second-nature/comment-page-1/#comment-19 John H. Schmitz Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:28:46 +0000 http://72.47.250.174/?p=635#comment-19 In essence, whether it is admitted or not, the search for a "Social Ecology", like anarchism itself, is a search for a utopian method of social organization. I can not think of any utopian experiment that has not ultimately failed. Their failure is universally attributable to the fact that humans, like other species of any type, are inherently selfish and exploitative. Evolution seems to rely on the theory that mutation or change is only relevant if it brings advantage; this is true for the many flowered sun flower, and the more independant butter cup. There is an inherent "cost/benefit" analysis in any individual's decision to subject itself to social or biological organization. If the idea of social ecology is to stand a chance in the market place of ideas, analysis like this article is paramount to examining the cost side of the equation, while the benefit side cannot be taken for granted. We are what we are, and the "human condition" cannot be wished away. Kudos to Sonja for recognizing the danger in following incomplete utopian blue prints. In essence, whether it is admitted or not, the search for a “Social Ecology”, like anarchism itself, is a search for a utopian method of social organization. I can not think of any utopian experiment that has not ultimately failed. Their failure is universally attributable to the fact that humans, like other species of any type, are inherently selfish and exploitative. Evolution seems to rely on the theory that mutation or change is only relevant if it brings advantage; this is true for the many flowered sun flower, and the more independant butter cup.

There is an inherent “cost/benefit” analysis in any individual’s decision to subject itself to social or biological organization. If the idea of social ecology is to stand a chance in the market place of ideas, analysis like this article is paramount to examining the cost side of the equation, while the benefit side cannot be taken for granted.

We are what we are, and the “human condition” cannot be wished away. Kudos to Sonja for recognizing the danger in following incomplete utopian blue prints.

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