Re: Moonson

From: janjero_at_...
Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2001 07:16:41 -0000

> At 02:39 PM 4/6/2001 -0000, you wrote:
> >> War is expensive and harmful to the economy.
> >
> >After the first economic revolution (1500 ca. AD) I agree with
you,
> >but before that time (and in the ancient world as a general term)
I
> >think that "war" is less expensive than persuasion.
>
> I would like to see some documentation for this opinion.
> To the best of my own research warfare is always expensive.

I am sorry, I have not.
It's just an opinion, probably based on considerations like: when the resources are very short, the "best" way to increase them is steal them by an act of violence, not by producing or trading or persuasion (which are slower and more difficult ways). Something like KoDP: cattle raid is more swift and less expensive than cattle raising.

When resources get more abundant, trading is easier and agreement tends to substitute violence.
Just an opinion, as I said. And a debatable one, of course.

Ciao
Gian