Скачать или смотреть 08 - There Is No Justice in History

Imagined hierarchies organize human societies through make-believe groups arranged in hierarchy (superiors, commoners, slaves), lacking biological basis yet persisting millennia through self-perpetuating myths. Examples include Hammurabi's Code, the American Declaration (which proclaimed equality while enslaving), and the Hindu caste system.

Critical insight: every imagined hierarchy disavows fictional origins and claims to be natural and inevitable. Aristotle claimed slaves have "slavish nature"; white supremacists cite pseudoscience; capitalists claim wealth reflects ability differences; Hindu myths describe castes from primeval body parts. Chance historical events become transformed into supposedly eternal cosmic truths.

THE VICIOUS CIRCLE: Self-Reinforcing Discrimination

Hierarchies become self-reinforcing through discrimination. The Hindu caste system originated from Indo-Aryan invasions 3,000 years ago. Invaders established superiority while subjugating natives, implementing rigid caste boundaries backed by pollution/purity concepts embedded in religious practice.

American racial hierarchy originated from economic calculations—African genetic immunity to malaria and yellow fever made them preferred slaves. This economic preference became elaborate racist mythology: Ham's cursed lineage, black inferiority claims, disease allegations. These myths created a vicious circle: discriminatory laws caused poverty and lack of education, which were then cited as "proof" of natural inferiority, justifying continued discrimination. Remarkably, segregation often worsened over time (worse by mid-twentieth century than late nineteenth)—the opposite of what would occur if discrimination reflected biological facts.

PATRIARCHY: Universal Yet Unexplained

Male dominance appears nearly universal since agriculture, yet explaining why is surprisingly difficult. Muscle power theory fails—women are excluded from non-strength positions (law, priesthood, politics) while performing heavy manual labor. The aggression theory collapses—greater male violence doesn't explain dominance in non-violent leadership. Reproductive strategy theory falters—bonobos and elephants have matriarchal structures despite similar patterns.

The distinction between sex (biological) and gender (cultural) is crucial. Biologically, humans divide into males (XY) and females (XX). But "man" and "woman" are cultural categories varying dramatically across time and space. Ancient Athens excluded women from voting; modern Athens permits voting. Medieval masculine traits (long wigs, stockings, jewelry) are considered feminine today. Culture determines which biological possibilities are realized or suppressed.

NO JUSTICE IN HISTORY

There is no justice in history. Most cultures fell to ruthless empires consigned to oblivion. Unjust discrimination often worsens over time—money accumulates to money, poverty to poverty. Those victimized by history are likely victimized again; those privileged are privileged again.

Most hierarchies lack logical or biological basis. They perpetuate chance historical events supported by myths transforming fictional origins into perceived eternal realities. Only by recognizing hierarchies as imagined can we hope to reimagine them differently.