Humans are Political Animals!

Dear friends,

Many academic disciplines analyze people as if We are talking insects. We are not! In other words, whether you place, for example, an ant or a bee either in the Sahel of Africa or on the North Pole, it will be the same creature and exhibit the exact same behavior. Again, people are not talking insects , because just the physical, intellectual, and emotional resources needed and interactions made to help us survive in different climates changes both our behavior and habits a great deal.

Consequently, humans are political animals (or as Aristotle put it "politikon zoon"). That is, We all either need or want whatever it is that We need or want; however, We must behave (speak and act) according to the circumstances in which We find Ourselves, due to the social interactions that will necessarily have to happen in order for Us to get what We either need or want from another person or nonhuman animal.

And this is where the political relations begin. In other words, since few of Us grow Our own food or make Our own clothes, and so forth, at the bare minimum, We must have contact with others who have what we need or want, and behave in a way that is favorable to the party who has what We need or want, in order to acquire whatever it is that We need or want. Ants and bees, for instance, do not have that need for social adaptation. Moreover, a person is being dishonest with herself/himself when s/he claims, "I am not political." Obviously, and unfortunately, even in erotic relationships this happens. Humans are political animals.Period!

G. Djata Bumpus