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Mother Pelican
A Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability

Vol. 18, No. 9, September 2022
Luis T. Gutiérrez, Editor
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From Homo economicus
to Homo ecologicus ~
Sequel 9 ~ Social Dynamics

Luis T. Gutiérrez

September 2022


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The patriarchal mindset of dominion and exploitation of nature, exacerbated in our industrial-technocratic civilization by the power of fossil fuels, is making the planet socially and ecologically dysfunctional. Human civilization is now in a paradoxical situation: "If human consumption growth continues, the planetary life support system will be disabled and humanity will itself become endangered. If consumption growth is stopped, the viability of the world's economic and financial systems will be threatened, and the stability of governments and society will deteriorate." Image credit: Ecocosm Dynamics. Click the image to enlarge.


This article on human social dynamics is Sequel 9 to From Homo economicus to Homo ecologicus ~ Cultural Evolution During the 21st Century. It follows Sequel 1 on conscious evolution, Sequel 2 on human supremacy, Sequel 3 on human personhood, Sequel 4 on human relations, Sequel 5 on human agency, Sequel 6 on historical dynamics, Sequel 7 on personal dynamics, and Sequel 8 on gender dynamics.

Since the inception of patriarchy (approximately 12000 years ago, in conjunction with agriculture and domestication), human history has been a history of dominion: dominion of man over woman, dominion of the rich over the poor, dominion of the stronger over the weaker, dominion of humans over nature. This series of essays now turns from personal and interpersonal dynamics to the social and ecological repercussions of patriarchy, including religious patriarchy, and the possibility of transcending this deeply ingrained yet artificial culture in response to the increasingly visible degradation of the human habitat in all regions of the planet. Is it humanly possible to evolve from competitive dominion to cooperative solidarity? Is it possible for the human species to reverse the current social dynamics leading toward ecocidal self-destruction?

Social Dynamics

"Social dynamics (or sociodynamics) is the study of the behavior of groups that results from the interactions of individual group members as well to the study of the relationship between individual interactions and group level behaviors" (Social Dynamics). In other words, personal and interpersonal dynamics percolate to groups, communities, nations, and beyond; and, as modes of behavior become pervasive, they in turn influence individual behavior by subtly (or not so subtly) conditioning individual behavior to the point where personal conscience and judgements become practically inoperative.

The maximum power principle is crucial for understanding social dynamics. Basically, it is about power. In ecological systems, it means maximizing the flow of energy to support maintenance and growth for any given species. The human species is a subset of the planetary ecosystem, and human agency is by no means exempt from the propensity to use power to prosper, and abuse power if necessary to grow in numbers and comfort. Millennia of seeking and using/abusing power long ago induced the creation of patriarchy and myths about human supremacy.

Slavery is patriarchal human agency seeking to augment personal muscle power of slave owners with slave muscle power. The slavery of women is patriarchal human agency seeking to augment the pleasure and reproductive power of slave owners. Sex slavery is perhaps the most despicable manifestation of humans abusing power. Natalism is another patriarchal manifestation of humans seeking power by growing in numbers without regard for the common good and proper balance with the biophysical habitat.

The power of fossil fuels has increased human power to the point of inducing new forms of slavery and natalism. Now that we have cheap surplus energy and electromechanical energy slaves, natalism has provided cheap labor (see the consumption and population feedback loops in the diagram at the top of this article) thereby inducing overpopulation, overconsumption, and significant ecological overshoot that is threatening the biophysical stability of the planet. Maria Mies, in her seminal book, Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale (1986, 1998, 2014) explains the nefarious convergence of patriarchy, natalism, and capitalism exacerbated by the power of cheap fossil fuels.

In his recent encyclical Fratelli tutti on fraternity and social friendship (2020), Pope Francis mentions "power" (or powerful, empowered, etc.) 62 times, stressing the difference between good use and bad use of power. On the political dimension of social dynamics:

"154. The development of a global community of fraternity based on the practice of social friendship on the part of peoples and nations calls for a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good. Sadly, politics today often takes forms that hinder progress towards a different world.

"155. Lack of concern for the vulnerable can hide behind a populism that exploits them demagogically for its own purposes, or a liberalism that serves the economic interests of the powerful. In both cases, it becomes difficult to envisage an open world that makes room for everyone, including the most vulnerable, and shows respect for different cultures."

Social Dynamics in Business and Economics

Maximum competition, minimum cooperation. This is "business as usual," seeking maximum quick profits in the short term with minimal regard for anything else. Domination via the market is the hallmark of patriarchal capitalism. Even more so of patriarchal socialism/capitalism, in which there is enforced control of the market by the state. The consumption and population loops keep revolving faster and faster worldwide, with computers, internet, social media, information, misinformation, disinformation, all powered by fossil fuels, enabling 8 billion people to keep marching like robots toward global ecocide while being distracted by advertising and spectacular events such as rockets going to outer space using (soon to be announced?) "sustainable rocket fuel." This is how the human herd looks to extra-terrestrials observing our planet:

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Business Men Marching, by Scott Maxwell, 2007 ~ Wikimedia, Creative Commons.
Click the image to enlarge.

Is there another way? Is there a way of minimum competition, maximum cooperation for the common good? Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti:

"168. The marketplace, by itself, cannot resolve every problem, however much we are asked to believe this dogma of neoliberal faith. Whatever the challenge, this impoverished and repetitive school of thought always offers the same recipes. Neoliberalism simply reproduces itself by resorting to the magic theories of “spillover” or “trickle” – without using the name – as the only solution to societal problems. There is little appreciation of the fact that the alleged “spillover” does not resolve the inequality that gives rise to new forms of violence threatening the fabric of society. It is imperative to have a proactive economic policy directed at “promoting an economy that favours productive diversity and business creativity” and makes it possible for jobs to be created and not cut. Financial speculation fundamentally aimed at quick profit continues to wreak havoc. Indeed, “without internal forms of solidarity and mutual trust, the market cannot completely fulfill its proper economic function. And today this trust has ceased to exist”. The story did not end the way it was meant to, and the dogmatic formulae of prevailing economic theory proved not to be infallible. The fragility of world systems in the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that not everything can be resolved by market freedom. It has also shown that, in addition to recovering a sound political life that is not subject to the dictates of finance, “we must put human dignity back at the centre and on that pillar build the alternative social structures we need”."

Social Dynamics in Governance

Governments at all levels are increasingly manipulated by "big money" to ensure that policies are adopted so as to benefit the elites. Here again, more money buys more power to dominate any opposition and ignore the needs of the poor and the care of our common home. Policies are formulated with one dimensional purposes, ignoring that social and economic systems are embedded in the planetary ecosystem where everything is connected. Seventy years after cybernetics explained how feedback loops influence the behavior of complex living systems, and fifty years after computer simulation models showed the counterintuitive behavior of social systems, most government policies are still formulated seeking short-term results that often make matters worse in the long-term. The practicing of printing fiat money makes "quick fixes" more attractive, no matter how costly. Needless to say, many entrepreneurs (and some charlatans) are eager to grab some of the money by inventing "solutions" that are based on nothing but science fiction. Populist demagogues also abound, promising instant solutions that, being biophysically unfeasible, cannot possibly materialize in the real world.

Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti:

"132. Even when they take such essential steps, states are not able, on their own, to implement adequate solutions, “since the consequences of the decisions made by each inevitably have repercussions on the entire international community”. As a result, “our response can only be the fruit of a common effort” to develop a form of global governance with regard to movements of migration. Thus, there is “a need for mid-term and long-term planning which is not limited to emergency responses. Such planning should include effective assistance for integrating migrants in their receiving countries, while also promoting the development of their countries of origin through policies inspired by solidarity, yet not linking assistance to ideological strategies and practices alien or contrary to the cultures of the peoples being assisted”.

"156. In recent years, the words “populism” and “populist” have invaded the communications media and everyday conversation. As a result, they have lost whatever value they might have had, and have become another source of polarization in an already divided society. Efforts are made to classify entire peoples, groups, societies and governments as “populist” or not. Nowadays it has become impossible for someone to express a view on any subject without being categorized one way or the other, either to be unfairly discredited or to be praised to the skies."

Social Dynamics in Education

Education is a major factor in the long history of patriarchal domination. It is a major factor when education is denied to girls, as is still the case in some countries; and it is a major factor even when the education of girls is no longer neglected but conveys patriarchal gender ideology, as is still the case in most countries. Afghan girls not admitted to higher education, and Catholic women not admitted to seminaries pursuant to priestly ordination, are different in degrees of patriarchal extremism, but both are rooted in rigid gender stereotypes that negate the consubstantial complementarity of man and woman, with nefarious social and ecological repercussions. The emergence of feminism (and eco-feminism) is now an irreversible sign of the times, but the patriarchal resistance is ferocious. Overcoming this resistance is critical for social and ecological justice in our increasingly crowded and degraded planet, as many scholars have pointed out:

Lamentably, Pope Francis fails to mention patriarchy in Fratelli tutti:

"167. Education and upbringing, concern for others, a well-integrated view of life and spiritual growth: all these are essential for quality human relationships and for enabling society itself to react against injustices, aberrations and abuses of economic, technological, political and media power. Some liberal approaches ignore this factor of human weakness; they envisage a world that follows a determined order and is capable by itself of ensuring a bright future and providing solutions for every problem."

"187. What are needed are new pathways of self-expression and participation in society. Education serves these by making it possible for each human being to shape his or her own future. Here too we see the importance of the principle of subsidiarity, which is inseparable from the principle of solidarity."

Social Dynamics in Science and Technology

Technology is always a double edged sword: it can be used for good purposes, but it can also be used for bad purposes. In today's world, science and technology are mostly driven by power-seeking money. The power to influence the desires of people for necessary and unnecessary commodities is key. Thus, via relentless advertising, a myth has been created to the effect that technology can deliver solutions for all human problems. Thus, nuclear energy would put an end to wars via deterrence, the green revolution would put an end to poverty and famines, and now we are told that electric vehicles and "clean energy" would resolve climate change, etc. Greenwashing (aka greenwishing) has become standard labeling practice to reassure people that they can have their pie and eat too. So we are persuaded to enjoy sustainable salmon, sustainable aviation fuels, sustainable development, sustainable energy, sustainable growth, sustainable everything. But there is no free lunch: "The quantity of metal required to make just one generation of renewable tech units to replace fossil fuels, is much larger than first thought. Current mining production of these metals is not even close to meeting demand. Current reported mineral reserves are also not enough in size. Most concerning is copper as one of the flagged shortfalls. Exploration for more at required volumes will be difficult, with this seminar addressing these issues" (Discussion). Consider the World Scientists' Warning to Humanity. The following links provide a more reasonable prognosis for the role of science and technology in resolving the ecological crisis:

Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti:

"29. With the Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, we do not ignore the positive advances made in the areas of science, technology, medicine, industry and welfare, above all in developed countries. Nonetheless, “we wish to emphasize that, together with these historical advances, great and valued as they are, there exists a moral deterioration that influences international action and a weakening of spiritual values and responsibility. This contributes to a general feeling of frustration, isolation and desperation”. We see “outbreaks of tension and a buildup of arms and ammunition in a global context dominated by uncertainty, disillusionment, fear of the future, and controlled by narrow economic interests”. We can also point to “major political crises, situations of injustice and the lack of an equitable distribution of natural resources… In the face of such crises that result in the deaths of millions of children – emaciated from poverty and hunger – there is an unacceptable silence on the international level”.[27] This panorama, for all its undeniable advances, does not appear to lead to a more humane future."

Social Dynamics in Religious Institutions

There is a positive feedback loop (i.e., mutual reinforcement over time) between secular patriarchy and religious patriarchy. After millennia of patriarchy, it was assumed to be divine law by all the major religious traditions. The Bible, written starting ca. 1000 BCE, is a patriarchal artifact. Consider Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 3:16. Violence pursuant to domination is pervasive in the Old Testament, and is mitigated but not outlawed in the New Testament. In the Catholic Church, slavery was not formally declared to be immoral until late in the 19th century. The mindset of religious domination was instrumental in justifying the "holy" crusades, the "holy" inquisition, and the doctrine of discovery, among other barbarities. Jesus of Nazareth, who preached and practiced humble compassion, became a king of power:

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Genesis 1:28 ~ Courtesy of Vincenzo Fagnani.
Click on the image to enlarge.

Theocratic fundamentalism is still prevalent in some religious traditions, but the current evolutionary direction in most Christian churches is toward mercy and respectful dialogue with secular culture and other religious bodies. In the Catholic Church, the equal dignity of man and woman was recognized late in the 20th century, but the consubstantial complementarity of man and woman is not yet formally recognized, and many church doctrines and practices remain rigidly patriarchal. The persistence of the patriarchal (i.e., exclusively male) priesthood in the Catholic and Orthodox churches is a significant obstacle to integral human development and cultural evolution toward improved social/ecological justice. Every conceivable rationalization is being used to justify an exclusively male clergy. Most people are still afraid to bring up this issue, but the patriarchal priesthood is not a matter of faith:

1. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer, God made flesh, not a patriarch.
2. God the Father is a person, but not a male.
3. God the Son is a person, but was not a male before the incarnation.
4. God the Holy Spirit is a person, but not a male.
5. The Trinity is a communion of persons, not a patriarchate.
6. The "Son of Man" is God made flesh, not a patriarch.
7. All men and women are fully consubstantial in one and the same human nature.
8. Bodiliness and sexuality are not simply identical.
9. Being a body-soul is more fundamental for human nature than sexuality.
10. The body is a sacrament of the entire person, but is not the entire person.
11. The priest acts in the person of Christ, not in the masculinity of Christ.
12. All men and women are ontologically homogeneous in their whole being.
13. All men and women are of the same flesh in their somatic structure.
14. The complementarity of man and woman is enabled by their consubstantiality.
15. All men and women are fully consubstantial with Jesus Christ as to his humanity.
16. For the redemption, the masculinity of Jesus is as incidental as the color of his eyes.
17. Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, not the male of life.
18. The substance of the Eucharist is BODY, not XX or XY chromosomes.
19. The substance of the Eucharist is FLESH, not testosterone.
20. The Church is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic," but not necessarily patriarchal.
21. Patriarchy is a disordered attachment to the supremacy of masculinity.
22. The Church is a communion of persons, not a patriarchate.
23. The Church is the body of Christ, not a woman with a male head.
24. The Virgin Mary is the "type" of the Church, not a woman with a male head.
25. The Virgin Mary precedes the sacramental economy as Mother of the Eucharist.
26. The Marian dimension of the Church precedes the apostolic dimension.
27. Apostolic succession is contingent on redeemed flesh, not on masculinity.
28. The nuptial mystery of Christ and the Church is not a patriarchal marriage.
29. Canon 1024 is an artificial contraceptive and abortifacient of female priestly vocations.
30. Catechism 1577 reduces the priesthood of the New Law to priesthood of the Old Law.
31. Catechism 1598 declares that ordaining only males is a choice, not a dogma.
32. The exclusively male priesthood makes invisible the "feminine genius" in Christ.
33. The Christian/Catholic/Orthodox faith is not intrinsically (dogmatically) patriarchal.
34. The conflation of patriarchal gender ideology and Christian doctrines is a disgrace.
35. Institutionalized ecclesiastical patriarchy is an abuse against Christ and the Church.
36. It is time to discard the patriarchal scaffolding that obscures the Catholic faith.
37. Male headship is an ancient but entirely artificial cultural custom, not natural law.
38. After the resurrection, nothing requires that apostolic succession be exclusively male.
39. The first "transubstantiation" in history happened in the Blessed Virgin Mary's body.
40. Transubstantiation can happen via women ordained to act in persona Christi.

In the Catholic Church, the current emphasis on synodality pursuant to improving communion, participation, and mission, offers a ray of hope that some day the patriarchal, imperial church will become a nonsexist, fully inclusive sacred community of committed believers centered on the Eucharist, witnessing by example of a simpler lifestyle, and free of the patriarchal scaffolding of religious pomp and circumstance that obscures the Christian faith:

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One Sacred Community by Mary Southard CSJ.
Courtesy of Ministry of the Arts. Click on the image to enlarge.

Guidance of the Encyclicals Laudato si' and Fratelli tutti

Some good guidance, based on natural realities, is already available. Pope Francis' encyclicals Laudato Si' on sustainability, and Fratelli Tutti on solidarity, are good guidance for human agency by all men and women of good will. There is an intrinsic connection between the two encyclicals, because ecological sustainability is practically impossible to attain without human solidarity. Lamentably, the patriarchal (exclusively male) priesthood, a symbol of domination of man over woman, is a disgraceful obstacle to cultural evolution away from the mindset of dominion, as Fratelli Tutti prescribes for the renewal of human civilization envisioned in Laudato Si' (114, 118). It is well known that dominion in the gender dimension of human relations extends to dominion in the social and ecological dimensions. Nevertheless, the Laudato Si' Action Platform and the Laudato Si' Movement are recommended as an effective way, especially for 1.3 billion Catholics, to play a part in conscious cultural evolution for the renewal of humanity and human civilization.

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Study the encyclicals Laudato Si' and Fratelli Tutti.
Explore the Laudato Si' official website.
Another good resource is the Laudato Si' Research Institute.
Click the image for more information about the Laudato Si' Action Platform.
Consider becoming active in the Laudato Si' Movement.

Goals of the Laudato Si' Action Platform:
(1) Hearing the Cry of the Earth
(2) Hearing the Cry of the Poor
(3) Ecological Economics
(4) Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles
(5) Ecological Education
(6) Ecological Spirituality
(7) Community Resilience and Empowerment


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Luis T. Gutiérrez is the owner and editor of the Mother Pelican Journal.


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