The Lucifer Principle

Is the name of a fascinating book by Howard Bloom. Basically the book describes and explains a theory of both "good" and "evil" in the world and as it specifically applies to all social species - from ants to humans.

A big part of the theory is "social status" or "pecking order".

What I found so fascinating about this mini-series is how it really exemplifies these aspects of the Lucifer Principle - quite striking actually.

Much of modern liberal thinking (including ironically Randite libertarianism) on "right and wrong" strives mightily against the basics of the LucPrinc - for instance the emphasis is on purely "the individual and his/her wants and needs" in the utilitarianism vein. All the buzzwords are "self" oriented: self-fulfillment, self-esteem, selfishness ("love yourself first"), etc. etc. etc. But in the real world esteem IS based on what others think of you (and me) and this makes "self-esteem" rather a pointless idea, and fulfillment IS based on one's actual "place in society" as earned and rewarded - from spouse and family to friends and work.

Collectivism in it's various forms (especially socialist communism) just plays a kind of "Jedi Mind Game" in that it emphasizes this "self-first" ethos but then argues that "making everyone equal in society" is the only way that EVERYONE can actually put themselves FIRST (on the highest pecking order rung.) This is utter nonsense of course in the real world - which is why communist societies are ALWAYS totalitarian dictatorships with Gulags and Secret Police and it's own pecking order status strcuture right from the beginnings - as someone once philosophized "we can't all be first chair violinist in the orchestra."