The Innate Qualities of Civilization: Tucked Away Inside Every Person

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Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities of man.

Ludwig von Mises

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Ludwig von Mises suggests that humans, like beavers and ants, have innate qualities that contribute to the creation of civilization. These qualities, such as curiosity, learning, playfulness, and socialization, are tucked away inside every person. By utilizing these qualities, humans have made incredible advancements and have the potential to continue shaping the world in a positive way, finding a balance between civilization and nature.

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Meaning of Quote – Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities of man.

Hey there! Let’s have a chat about a smart thought shared by a fellow named Ludwig von Mises. He once said, “Human civilization is not something achieved against nature; it is rather the outcome of the working of the innate qualities of man.” That’s quite a mouthful, but it’s a really interesting idea, so let’s dive in and explore what he might have meant by that!

Imagine walking through a forest and spotting a beaver’s dam, or watching a group of ants marching in line to carry food back to their colony. These animals don’t have schools or libraries or the internet, but they build and work together surprisingly well! They just have this natural knack for doing what it takes to make their own little worlds work. In a way, Ludwig von Mises is suggesting that we humans, much like the beavers and ants, have our own ‘built-in’ talents and tendencies that make us really good at creating and shaping the world around us—which we call civilization.

So, what are these ‘innate qualities’ that von Mises mentioned? Picture things like curiosity, the ability to learn, the desire to play and explore, and the need to hang out and chat with other people—these are all tucked away inside every person. And when we use these qualities, we end up doing some amazing stuff without even battling against nature itself.

First off, being curious has led us to learn so much about our planet and beyond. Think about when you last asked a ‘Why?’ question. Like, why is the sky blue? Or why do apples fall from trees? Well, a long time ago, people asked those same kinds of questions, and in searching for answers, they began to understand things like how light works or what gravity is. And by sharing what they discovered, they contributed little by little to building our civilization.

Then there’s learning. We humans love to share what we know by telling stories, drawing pictures, and eventually writing stuff down. This habit has helped us hold on to all kinds of useful knowledge. Because of it, we didn’t have to invent the wheel over and over; we could just improve on what someone else had started. This quality of passing down knowledge has been like a bucket brigade, with each generation adding water until we’ve got oceans of information to swim in!

Playing and exploring are also part of our human toolkit. Just like when you figure out a puzzle or a new game, trial and error leads to awesome ideas and innovations. When early humans played around with rocks and sticks, they weren’t just goofing off—they were learning and inventing. They found ways to create tools, cook food, and build shelters. Each of these playful explorations was a step toward civilization, with art, technology, and architecture blossoming from them.

   

Now, let’s think about our need to socialize, to be part of a group. Back when people lived in small communities or tribes, they realized they could get more done by working together. Think of a team sport where each player has a position. If they play their part well, the team can do great things. In a similar way, people figured out that everyone had something special to offer, from hunting, gathering, and farming to making clothes, telling stories, and taking care of each other.

As time ticked on, these get-togethers turned into villages, cities, and countries. We built systems like governments and laws to keep things running smoothly (most of the time), all because we knew teamwork was better than going it alone. So, when von Mises talks about civilization stemming from our innate qualities, it’s these social skills that have helped us create neighborhoods, celebrate festivals, and do everything as one big, often noisy, but cooperative family.

Sometimes, people think of ‘civilization’ as standing apart from nature, with all our big buildings, cars, and computers. But actually, just like a bird doesn’t fight the tree to make a nest, we’re not battling against nature to build our world; we’re using what’s inside us—our instincts, our smarts, our creativity—and what’s around us to make something pretty special.

It’s not to say we’ve always got it right. Sometimes we put up a skyscraper where the birds used to sing, or we pollute a river that fish used to swim in. And as we learn from these mistakes, there’s an opportunity to use our natural problem-solving skills to find a balance, to make it so people and nature can both thrive.

Think about the new ways we’re coming up with to use energy, like solar panels that soak up the sun or wind turbines that catch the breeze. Or how some folks are building green roofs covered with plants, right on top of city buildings! These innovations show that our civilization can, indeed, get along with nature rather than fighting against it.

In the end, Ludwig von Mises’ words remind us that civilization is a kind of a group project, a masterpiece we’ve all been working on ever since the first humans started hanging out together. We’ve been using these ‘innate qualities’ of ours, the good stuff that comes built into every person, to create a world that is always changing, hopefully for the better. If we keep being curious, learning, exploring, and teamwork-ing, who knows what amazing things we’ll come up with next?

   

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