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Wed 1 May, 2024 07:50 pm
I am not exaggerating, I have been working on a theory for at least 40 years. I started it in Arabic, then in Kurdish and since 1991 in English. I am an academic currently, thanks to this theory. However I have been trying to publish it as a book initially and then since 2014 as an article but always desk-rejected.
I paste the Abstract and the Introduction below.
Do you think, the topic is uninteresting?
If you encourage, I will publish the whole article on this forum.
My hope is to know whether my paper is useless or there is something wrong with the publishing establishment.
What is Human Nature and How and Why Are Social Phenomena Formed?
The Theory of Robots of Genes in the Ecological Niche of Knowledge
Showan Nafie Khurshid
Abstract
Instead of explaining observed human social phenomena (SPa), this paper presents a theoretical model that organically builds SPa, thereby offering an opportunity to understand how and why SPa form. It is well-established that organisms evolve capabilities to utilize their ecological niches. Part One predicts that robots of genes (RGs) (Dawkins) will require seven sets of capabilities if they move into the ecological niche of knowledge (ENK), where survival requires producing resources by applying socially generated and learned knowledge.
Part Two explores how possessing and exercising these capabilities leads predictably to the generation of psychology, political institutions, historical narratives, moralities, religions and ideologies. Explaining the formation of these SPa entails constructing and presenting many original, countervailing theories that challenge the existing social science paradigms.
From the perspective of this Theory of Robots of Genes in the Ecological Niche of Knowledge (Trgenks, Rgenks), political science has not provided an adequate understanding of politics, as evidenced by the challenges faced in building and maintaining democracy. Some of the implications of Trgenks include:
• The emergence of the state is contingent upon adopting a Method for Organizing the Struggle for Political Power (MOSPP).
• Tyranny (autocracy, totalitarianism) and democracy are the only two distinct MOSPPs.
• There is a widespread underappreciation and misconception of democracy, contributing to its weakening.
• Clear pathways exist for reforming democracy to enhance its resistance against antidemocratic forces and offer citizens more meaningful political participation.
Validating Trgenks relies on comparing the similarity between the social phenomena (SPa) generated by Rgenks and those of humans.
Key words, Ecological Niches, Robots of Genes, Politics, psychology, morality, Ideologies, religions, history.
Introduction
Initially, this work was intended to be a historical account of events that occurred during my lifetime. However, numerous questions arose. Why do some politicians seem to adhere to morality even when it disadvantages them? Why should humans concern themselves with morality when they are descended from monkeys? Why are ideologies and religions necessary? Why do civil wars erupt under certain conditions but not others?
These questions led me to consider human psychology and eventually to develop this model: ‘the Robot of Gene in the Ecological Niche of Knowledge’ (Rgenk(s)). The unique aspect of this model is that we can set humans completely aside and observe what the model does.
Being a Robot of Genes (RG(s)) (Dawkins) implies that we can envision the model carrying out activities that should culminate in reproducing its genes. Thus, all organisms share some core activities which include strategies to obtain and protect resources and engage in reproducing their genes (Part One, Section 1.1).
Obtaining resources requires adaptations to specific ecological niches. These adaptations are like tools used to acquire and utilise the resources offered by the niche. For instance, a sheep, utilising the grass, has different tools compared to a lion, which consumes the flesh of the sheep.
Rgenks inhabit the Ecological Niche of Knowledge (ENK) (1.2). Within the ENK, inhabitants can produce and protect resources by applying knowledge they generate and learn socially. This means that Rgenks, by producing resources, create their niche, and they do so by using knowledge which they may inherit from previous generations and acquire from contemporaries. However, this lifestyle requires toiling and toiling detracts resources from reproduction. Thus, as an RG, an Rgenks may attempt to gain resources through easier means even if that harms other conspecifics, thus exploitation, swindling, predation, and theft may be expected. This is a significant source of conflict among Rgenks, and for beings who rely on knowledge intensively, it should be expected to become a source of psychological conflict (more on this later).
Part One (1.2.1) predicts the necessity of Seven Sets of Capabilities (SSC) or tools for RGs within the ENK. Among these are morality, which is essential for the ENK’s survival, and political power to enforce morality when voluntary compliance fails. Another set of capabilities concerns how to organise the struggle for political power. Rgenks, being RGs, and considering the easier access to resources that political power provides, should be expected to appropriate political power and struggle for it. Hence, the need for Methods for Organising Struggle for Power (MOSPP(s)), to prevent the breakdown of political power and the ENK along with it.
Part Two explores whether, how, and why Rgenks can be expected to generate human-like Social Phenomena (SPa). Rgenk psychology (2.1) will be predicted by a two-pronged approach. First, we will examine the cognitive capabilities an RG would require for survival within the ENK. Second, we will explore the impacts of possessing and exercising the Seven Sets of Capabilities (SSC) on the social interactions of Rgenks. It should be expected this paper will propose a novel psychological theory for Rgenks, and may as well apply to humans.
To figure out the political phenomena (2.2) that Rgenks will generate, Trgenks conjectures about the Methods of Organizing the Struggle for Political Power (MOSPPs) that might be hit upon or developed by Rgenks. It will be suggested that only two distinct MOSPPs can exist. The first method relies on the concentration power, so that the subject are in no position to compete for power. This method creates regimes which we refer to as totalitarian, autocratic, and tyrannical systems. The second MOSPP disperses power among competing elites. By exploring the long-term effects of applying these MOSPPs, a clearer understanding of political history (2.3) can be achieved."
Morality (2.4) is posited as a prerequisite for the survival of knowledge-based resource producers and, consequently, the very existence of the ENK. In simpler terms, all Rgenks require morality to exist, because without morality, the producer will not be able to reap the benefit from their labour. Thus, the ENK will not exist. This should be an incentive for moral commitment. Although, it does not deny that a self-interested Rgenk, while wishing everyone else to be a paragon of morality, may occasionally exempt itself from strict commitment to morality. This is what makes social overview, political power, moral education and training, and the development of technical and psychological capabilities that reduce the need for moral infringement, necessary, and potentially effective for Rgenks. This section also offers a normative moral theory to be a criterion to figure out the moral choices. It will
Section 2.5 underscores the reasons that Rgenk communities formulate Political Belief Systems (PBS(s)). The central premise is that, for beings reliant on knowledge, the implementation of a MOSPP necessitates a corresponding PBS. Political system will need PBSs to ideationally and psychologically shape the subjects, ensuring their subordination to the political power structure. This implies that a PBS provides direction to the political leadership on how to educate the populace, and whom to suppress, change or eliminate, or earmark, and prepare for potential ascension to power.
The validity of the theories presented in this paper can be evaluated by contrasting the behaviour and social phenomena of Rgenks with those of humans. Humans are products of natural selection. Consequently, if Rgenks are identical to humans, then Rgenks’ Social Phenomena Area (SPa) should also mirror that of humans. This implies that the constitution of humans’ SPa serves as a natural experiment for theories pertaining to Rgenks.
What distinguishes this paper is the creation of Rgenks, which allows this paper to develop multiple theories for each social phenomenon. However, I will highlight only a few important contributions:
1. It provides a single theoretical framework that gives rise to theories explaining all humanlike SPa (although, for various reasons economy, social structure of Rgenks and aesthetics are omitted). This contrasts favourably with the current social sciences which suffer from narrow specialisations on top of fragmentation.
2. The theories of this paper are all falsifiable.
3. It identifies the conditions under which tyrannical systems or democratic ones develop. This insight is extremely important now that democracy is being undermined in many countries currently.
4. Trgenks identifies morality as a prerequisite for knowledge-based resource production and, consequently, the existence of ENK. This provides an objective basis for morality. Given that the well-being of ENK is measurable, it transforms moral inquiry into a scientific endeavour. Furthermore, it identifies certain factors as contributing to the relativity of morality, thereby undermining the thesis of the inevitability of moral relativism.