THE LIMIT TO CHRISTIAN ETHIC: A CALCULATION PROBLEM (I love this because it illu

THE LIMIT TO CHRISTIAN ETHIC: A CALCULATION PROBLEM

(I love this because it illustrates the need for limits of any theory)

by William Butchman

The beneficial strategy of Christianity is its attempt to increase the size of the cooperative in-group, which has obvious positive outcomes.

The problem is that the larger the group, the more calculation problems we get in trying to determine reciprocity, which is why there is a genetic (ethnic) limit: within a certain genetic distance it seems that we can manage it.

I see that as part of the problem for Christianity: articulating the boundaries to in-group cohesion.

There has to be a boundary, so maybe there was a gain by pushing it from clan > tribe > nation.

But then there are limited returns beyond nation, although I think there is a racial interest to defend.

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Curt: this is one of the most articulate expressions I’ve heard. “it’s a calculation problem”, and exceeding the limits of the theory invalidates the theory.