The dystopian world you describe, of a perpetual arms race, sounds like The Jagged Orbit from 1969. I have a vague recollection of that one too, though it didn’t make the sharp and deep impression of the other two.

I jumped into this thread lower down, past the tip about Wilson’s book, and posted A Thought about “overpopulation of tribes” better characterizing the problem of the modern world by way of Universe 25. And it seems like tribes experiencing a lot of friction rubbing up against other tribes, might incubate muckers inside, despite their best intentions…like Muslims embedded in an increasingly hostile America. Hateful rhetoric bounces around the tribe’s echo chamber, pitched to the ears of the troubled, who break out of the tribe’s restraints to attack The Others, thinking that in so doing they’re defending their tribe.

Tribalism’s a bitch and a root cause.

Just based on Universe 25 and what I know of previous studies about the natural size of human groups, I think I might characterize the modern problems as “overpopulation of tribes”. I think much of the discontent in the world today is being generated by friction between groups, not individuals. The original human(oid) tribes were widely separated and contact might have sometimes been viewed as a good thing (evolving into clan associations and yearly clan gatherings). But crammed together like rats in Universe 25, I’d expect tribes to react like rats.

I’m looking forward to reading Wilson’s thoughts. Thanks, pod.

“The art of selling people things they don’t need, don’t want, and can’t afford, for money they haven’t even earned yet.”

You see, there are some people who can’t really do anything except buy and sell. That’s what they do, its how they see themselves, and how they judge everyone else. And they have total contempt for anyone who isn’t just like them.

E.O. Wilson’s latest, “The Social Conquest of Earth” has been interesting when I manage to pick it up and read another chapter or two. I think you’d find it thought provoking. (You too, Robert.)

In addition, there is some interesting physical and social anthropological finds coming from caves in South Africa that supports the idea of small group culture.

Of course there is David Brin, espousing the cooperation-competition motif of human culture. His blog (http://davidbrin.blogspot.ca/) is always an interesting read. Highly recommended.

Will we adapt to this new culture? Yeah, most likely. Will the transition be easy? Probably not.

The difference between human culture and Universe 25 is that the later had no resource pressures to introduce the competition factor. All yin, no yang.

What happens if we finally make the ultimate tool, say fusion power, and there is no more want?

But it cannot be denied we were designed by evolution to live in small bands of one or two dozen individuals which only occasionally interacted with other bands. Even in historical times, most of humanity has lived in agricultural villages or compact city neighborhoods, an environment where everyone you knew also knew each other; i.e., a real community. With the advent of modern transportation and communications, this has all changed. I don’t doubt this has had a negative effect on individual and group dynamics.

Country kids live in a wholesome, tight-knit community of shared values and traditions. City kids are street smart and alert, open to new experiences and social contacts. Everybody knows suburban kids are all fucked up.

UPDATE: More complete information: http://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/42/wiles.php