Page 14 - Core Beliefs For Intentional Community

Certain conditions should produce parallels between behaviors such as territoriality
in lower animals which are genetic in origin and culturally produced behaviors in man.
In both cases the environment has favored behavior of a certain type, but in the
first case the emergent form is directly under the control of biological mechanisms.
In the latter case the adaptive behavior is selected from a wide range of possible
behaviors none of which are specifically controlled by the genetic system.

Thus I am not surprised when I find territorial behavior in many human groups. Nor
am I surprised to find aggressive behavior affecting various levels
of that complex whole which makes up human social life. It is no

surprise either that the anthropological record contains many
cases of opposite types of behavior. No one type reflects the
"real" innate nature of man. Human nature is largely open, and it is
this very openness that gives the human species its great
advantage in the biological world.'

Alland‛s operative conclusion is that our brain constitutes the biological endowment
that enables us to determine cultural norms. We are endowed with FREE WILL.
The mainstream of the Jewish heritage presupposes Alland‛s point of view. Here
are two examples.

Deuteronomy, Chapter 30:
15] See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16] For I
command you this day, to love the DIVINE your God, to walk in Its ways, ·and to keep
Its commandments, Its laws, and Its rules, that you may thrive and increase, and
that the DIVINE your God may bless you in

the land which you are about to invade and
occupy… 19] I call heaven and earth to witness
against you this day: I have put before you
life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life -
if you and your offspring would live…

Ethics of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot) - 3:19
“Everything is foreseen, yet freedom of choice is given; and the world is judged with
goodness, and all is according to the majority of deeds.”

The choice is ours. We have the ability to intervene in what appears to be
fate.

In our next issue we will examine the concept of community as a basic framework for
human existence, from both a universal and Jewish point of view.
Compiled by Michael Livni

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