The Gods Must Be Crazy
THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY
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Florida International University
THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INR 3403/B51
OCTOBER 18, 2011
WORD COUNT: 493 The Gods Must Be Crazy depicts two distinctive contrasting approaches to man in nature, between the Bushmen and the Westerners, one that is devoid of modern day society; the result is physical freedom and no restraints on behavior. The other a full participant in civil society, civil freedom and community living. Both have a common denominator, which is a harmonious existence between the individual and society. According to Jean Jacques Rousseau “Man is born free” (Somerville & Santoni, 1963, p. 205), and so, it seems the case for the Bushmen who are living in the Kalahari Dessert, in Africa. Which is reminiscent of a prehistoric time when people had no government, law, or private property, having not entered into a social contract among civilized men. We are able to see how the Bushmen live in a natural state, pre-societal with in the 20th century where no political institutions are in existence. In this natural state there is no fighting over property or any government to enforce inequality among men. There is simply compassion among all, free of strife. Which suggests that we are better off in the state of nature, as noble savages, a contradicting what Thomas Hobbes asserts, that human life without political institutions is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (Summerville & Santoni, 1963, p.142). The Bushmen live by a natural law and a divine law which commands every man to do unto others what he would have done unto himself” (Sigmund, 1971, p.48). An environment where God or Gods plays an important role. In addition, the Bushmen are happy non-violent people who, have no need for material possessions, nor consumed with greed. For example, Bushmen only hunt for food they can eat immediately and for survival purposes. In contrast, Western society is dominated
[pic]
Florida International University
THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
INR 3403/B51
OCTOBER 18, 2011
WORD COUNT: 493 The Gods Must Be Crazy depicts two distinctive contrasting approaches to man in nature, between the Bushmen and the Westerners, one that is devoid of modern day society; the result is physical freedom and no restraints on behavior. The other a full participant in civil society, civil freedom and community living. Both have a common denominator, which is a harmonious existence between the individual and society. According to Jean Jacques Rousseau “Man is born free” (Somerville & Santoni, 1963, p. 205), and so, it seems the case for the Bushmen who are living in the Kalahari Dessert, in Africa. Which is reminiscent of a prehistoric time when people had no government, law, or private property, having not entered into a social contract among civilized men. We are able to see how the Bushmen live in a natural state, pre-societal with in the 20th century where no political institutions are in existence. In this natural state there is no fighting over property or any government to enforce inequality among men. There is simply compassion among all, free of strife. Which suggests that we are better off in the state of nature, as noble savages, a contradicting what Thomas Hobbes asserts, that human life without political institutions is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (Summerville & Santoni, 1963, p.142). The Bushmen live by a natural law and a divine law which commands every man to do unto others what he would have done unto himself” (Sigmund, 1971, p.48). An environment where God or Gods plays an important role. In addition, the Bushmen are happy non-violent people who, have no need for material possessions, nor consumed with greed. For example, Bushmen only hunt for food they can eat immediately and for survival purposes. In contrast, Western society is dominated
References: Somerville, J. and Santoni, R. (1963). Social and Political Philosophy. New York: Random House, Inc.