Analytical History & Evolutionary Economics Chen Ping

1. Analytical History & Evolutionary EconomicsChen Ping • March 26, 2005 • The Miracle of A Spiritual Empire

2. PBS Empires Series:《 Kingdom of David, The Saga of the Israelites》 • The creation of the world’s first and most profoundly influential monotheistic religion

3. From Monotheistic Religion to Universal Theory • Rethinking Needham’s question: Why modern science emerged in the West Europe, not in China, India and other civilizations • The limits of pragmatism: conflicting theories for complex phenomena. Where is the problem: assumptions or methodologies? • The success of universal theories: Newton mechanics, Maxwell theory of electromagnetic dynamics, Einstein theory of general relativity

4. Unique Ideas and Contributions From Jewish Culture • Story of Abraham: Put belief (God) ahead of his only son > the meaning of human life beyond biological bond > social animal both in material and spiritual life • Story of Moses and the Law by self-discipline rather than by force • Sustainable culture by belief rather than by war

5. Implications of The Ten Commandments (I) • (1) You haveonly one God. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. > Unify people by common belief and self-discipline, not by custom, not by force • (2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, ……: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.> Lasting punishment beyond individual life • (3) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. > Create final determinant for bad behavior • (4) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. > Guarantee the life cycle and encourage spiritual life > Set conditions for developing division of labor and community life • (5) Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

6. Implications of the Ten Commandments (II) • (6) Thou shalt not kill. • (7) Thou shalt not commit adultery. • (8) Thou shalt not steal. • (9) Thou shaltnot bear false witness against thy neighbour > Foundation of the rule by law, not rule by man. • (10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. > Community economy rather than family economy

7. New Pattern of Civilization Competition • Lost battles, lost state, lost temple, but survival by unified belief and community solidarity • Decreasing coordination cost and increasing survival of culture (not individual) • Channel human energy into both material and spiritual endeavor • Question in social evolution: What is the criteria for success or survival?

8. Jewish Traditions for Cultural Solidarity • Taboos related to decease control and hygiene: • Food taboo and Kosher food • Boys sexual treatment before adult • Synagogue as the center of community life • Specialized scholar for religions study • Blood linkage by Jewish mother • New choice of the way of death

9. The Differences between Chinese and Jewish Culture • Foundations of social order: • Strong leader/governments vs. community/religion/law • Constraints of individual behavior: • Family/social/government pressure + loose moral constraints vs. self-discipline with religions constraints • Family and state (国+家) vs. civil society > division of labor beyond family ties and administrative system

10. Historical Evolution and Organizational Innovation • Mixture of legend, history, and imagination • From state religion to separation of religion and politics after repeated failure of military revolts • The split of Judaism and Christianity, continuity of religions conflicts • Adaptation and continuity of culture and language • Religions belief, business norm, and international network • Social network and civic safety net

11. Rethinking Limitation of Chinese Civilization • Strategic thinking vs. organizational innovation • Small scale of family circle vs. large scope of universal order • Top-down order vs. self-organization • Pragmatic goal vs. eternal goal for human destiny • Selection rule by war/power vs. academic discipline • Dialogue among relatives and friends (centered with human relations) vs. dialogue between individual and God (centered with law of nature) • Historical driving force: strong men (population size) vs. thinkers (organization ideas)