Nature, Culture and Scarcity: Foreword to a Theoretical Synthesis

Abstract

It is argued that, despite the successes of social science in mitigating the mood of natural determinism by demonstrating the relevance of sociocultural variations and learning as modes of explanation, the concept of scarcity largely retains its naturalistic status in social thought. It is time for a preliminary attempt at synthesizing the various strands of thought which point in the direction of a socioculural theory of scarcity. Scarcity is defined as an asserted deficiency of resources allegedly functional to the concretization of any given valued end in specific situations. Observer-defined scarcity is distinguished from the scarcity consciousness of social actors. Scarcities are seen to arise out of unconcretized implications of already existing values, norms, legitimizing symbols, integrative social organization, and technics viewed as patterns of social meanings constituting a total sociocultural order. Implications can work themselves out in the form of conflict, incompatibility and obsolescence. These points are exemplified and clarified. Directions for research necessary for the construction of a sociocultural theory of scarcity are outlined.