Civilization begins

[Angry Dragon]

Civilization begins when the strong finally realize they have a duty to protect the weak. That duty is the foundation of civilization, the bedrock on which everything else rests.

Cuba , Stephen Coontz p. 89

[NoOneMan]

1. huh

Maybe its when the strong thought they can force the week into wage-slave servitude, only to protect them when their surplus accumulation and marketplaces could possibly be threatened.

Wether you like it or not, I think "civilization's" start had a lot more to do with exponential surplus created by granary-indebted agriculturalists 10K years ago, rather than some moral obligation that is also shared by non-"civilized", communal foraging tribes

[TheProgressive]

2. That's just one ingredient

A Civilization is an engine of life. It requires a successful nurturing of basic life requirements (clean air, water, food, environment), freedom and liberty, equal justice, education, health, caring for the old and young and points in between, employment/contributing to society, the arts, and yes, caring for those less fortunate.

[RainDog]

3. We now have archeological evidence to show early homo sapiens cared for the chronically ill

Which would seem to suggest that conservatism as practiced by the American Republican Party is evidence of their lack of humanity.

http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/03/30/deformed-skull-of-prehistoric-child-suggests-that-early-huma/

[NoOneMan]

4. Interesting article

I can imagine though that there may be some contradictory examples as well. In any case, we know enough now to understand that protecting the most vulnerable is something done by many different cultures with many different ways of life. Frankly, just due to our recorded history of civilization, we should all have countless examples of a pattern of civilization actually not doing this (for power, money, or some other nefarious purpose)

[ErikJ]

5. The endangered species especially.

I think the ultimate altruism is saving other species and the environment.

[Deep13]

6. I don't think there is much evidence of that.

In fact, isn't there evidence that paleolithic people took care of each other?