From primitive austerity to self-interest: on the question of the formation of the enrichment imperative in archaic societies

The goal of this article is to identify the conditions and stages of the formation of the imperative of economic egoism in archaic societies. Basing on the methodology of neo-evolutionism, the author suggests that this imperative was brought to life by the growth of structural and functional differentiation in early vertically integrated societies. Based on the results of archaeological and anthropological studies and texts of literary monuments, the author reveals the stages of formation of the imperative of economic egoism. Initially, the value of material goods began to be realized, first of all, by the leaders of a stratified society. Wealth helped them to demonstrate generosity and attract recipients of gifts to their side, and during the transition to a productive economy, to control the mechanism of redistribution of benefits in the group. Under these conditions, wealth has become not only a sign, but also a condition for obtaining and maintaining prestige and high social status. The increase in the level of aggression of archaic societies and the increase in the intensity of conflicts contributed to the penetration of the imperatives of selfishness into the consciousness of the broad masses of community members involved in military conflicts. Thus, according to the author, the imperative of self-interest was generated by the process of formation of vertically integrated social structures and strengthened due to the growth of the structural and functional differentiation of archaic society.