Environmental Thought in Antiquity

Sahlins's article was particularly interesting to read. Most notable in this reading was the mention of the paradox that true wealth only exists in the presence of a low standard of living, while the industrialized version of wealth inherently relies on scarcity to remain intact, necessarily creating an exploitative false scarcity so others can manipulate the economic system and accumulate wealth. The addition of the example of Aborigines who thrive on the hunter-gatherer model of existence drives home the point that those with the low standard of living and comparatively high abundance do not suffer for their economic structure.

This reading draws immediate parallels to Lynn White's thesis on how agriculture may have been the first (and largest) of many steps which led to the inequality and environmental dangers we face today. While the thesis may seem a little too good to be true, it is helpful in establishing the competitive accumulation of resources as the origin of inequality throughout society. While accumulation is an example of wanting more resources than one has, the hunter-gatherer model exemplifies having an abundance of resources relative to the need. This leads to the example of the tribe that does not take care of their belongings. It would seem intuitive that individuals coming from a lower standard of living would prize and preserve their possessions, but the tribe mentioned by Sahlins has no issue tossing theirs to the side or mistreating them. This proves the tribe's perceived abundance, as this sort of behavior is similar to that of the exorbitantly wealthy in a capitalist society.

It is interesting and somewhat profound that the behavior of this tribe mimics the behavior of the wealthy so closely, but the inclusion of this example simply proves Sahlins's point that low means can still generate prosperity.