The economy of Eden.
2021-07-25 10:20![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asher553It's been said that the Garden of Eden was not an economy, because there was unlimited abundance and no scarcity.
I would amend this to say that there was no scarcity for material goods (food and drink), but there was indeed scarcity because there was something that the humans desired (the forbidden fruit) that was not available to them.
And I think this points us in the direction of realizing that humankind has needs that are not purely physical in nature, but rather spiritual. And that those spiritual needs are intimately connected with the need to exercise free will, to make one's own choices (and one's own mistakes), to provide for oneself and for others, and to act with awareness and dignity as a being created in the image of G-d.
I would amend this to say that there was no scarcity for material goods (food and drink), but there was indeed scarcity because there was something that the humans desired (the forbidden fruit) that was not available to them.
And I think this points us in the direction of realizing that humankind has needs that are not purely physical in nature, but rather spiritual. And that those spiritual needs are intimately connected with the need to exercise free will, to make one's own choices (and one's own mistakes), to provide for oneself and for others, and to act with awareness and dignity as a being created in the image of G-d.
