In a few threads I have seen that some tend to think capitalism originated in Europe, while others argue that capitalism is natural.
What do you think?
Did capitalism exist before and was just not practiced untill europe? Or did the euopeans plan out capitalism like they try to with socialism?
I do think that 'capitalism' is a product of man's nature, although the market institutions that we take for granted today certainly did not necessarily exist in the past — 'capitalism' [the market economy; market coordination forces; et cetera] is in continuous development. When answering the question it's important to ask what 'capitalism' is and represents, otherwise you get more confused responses, such as Merlin's (although, I'm very perplexed when he writes that capitalism does not reflect on human nature). Capitalism evolves as a result of economizing man, who choses amongst means and ends — rational (economizing) man is a function of human nature.
I have no idea what you're talking about when you mention trade. Trade was certainly not prohibitted by religious tenets or custom in Israeli tribes. In fact, it happened. But again, you asked for an example of tribal people having the concept of private property. These tribal people knew about private property, at least in concept. People had possesions that were theirs and theirs alone, and it was generally believed that it was wrong to steal others' possessions. This is private property.
What others in the tribe say one ought to do with one's property, what you call "social pressure" is irrelevant, as long as the individual could ignore said pressure and choose to do what he wanted with his property, which of course was the case, or there would not have been any golden cows and such.
faber est suae quisque fortunae
I remember the phrase as "thou shall not covet thy nieghbors wife." And intuitivley, this suggests that you own people. In tribal societies, fathers "gave" away thier daughters.
I understnd i am equating people with property, but the point is to demonstrate that the concept of possesion, and doing what you see fit with it is not forgien, but instinctual to humans.
Well, no point in bringing quotations form anthropological work here. I just find it absolutely incredible that the full concept of private property, not just a partial realization (if the Israeli tribes had not had a partial realization of private property they would not have been as extremely successful evolution-wise as they proved to be) has been achieved anywhere on earth. My thoughts anyway.