Berens on the Axial Age The Axial Age Origins of Western Dynamism —“The ‘Faust

Berens on the Axial Age

The Axial Age Origins of Western Dynamism

—“The ‘Faustian Soul’/Martial Spirit of the West was inherited from the bronze-age steppe raiders (IE). Steppe lands and a pastoral way of living selects for aggression. And with the invention of chariot warfare, the IE where able to dominate/out compete/conquer neighboring peoples. During this period, religious justification goes from “we live in a world of uncertainty and we should work together” to “we have agency and can act to change our condition (just like the gods).”

It is important to note the origin of the western ethos, which incentivized dominance, truth, hyper-agency (sovereignty). Naturally, this spawned resistance movements or counter-enlightenments, which–as reactions–responded with submission, lies, and collectivism.

Furthermore, the martial spirit, or propensity for dominance, permeates every aspect of traditional occidental society. When we channel dominance, rather than suppress it, to productive ends–what we call a market for heroism–we increase the velocity of the production of commons. We limit the expression of dominance through natural law (prohibitions on predation & parasitism) , so that the only means to acquire status is through production (this includes production of commons: information, cultural, aesthetic, defense, etc).

The West benefited from creating a market for dominance (heroism). The rest either suppressed dominance (River Lands/Flood Plains), or resisted domestication (desert lands/ harsh lands).”—James Augustus Berens