Cyclical Society Theory: Law of Social Cycle

The law of social cycle is a social cycle theory developed by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. It is based on the theory of human historical motivity based on "the ancient spiritual ideas of the Vedas". The theory was developed in the 1950s and expanded by Ravi Batra since the 1970s, Johan Galtung and Sohail Inayatullah since the 1990s and others.

This is an extremely interesting theory that I was talking to my cousin, Terry, about this morning (We're on a fringe kick this November and it's a great time). We were discussing society and where we might be headed, and I asked the question: "Do you think that we're destined as a society to go through cycles of building to the peak of civilization and then destroying ourselves, only to be rebuilt again?"

I mean, the ancient Egyptians, they say, might've known things that we don't. They were a monumentally advanced civilization at the time, and then they destroyed themselves and the world moved on. Ancient Greeks were the democratic forerunners and intellectual giants in their time, and then they destroyed themselves and the world moved on.

Now, what I'm thinking is that our civilization is right on that line of: We're either going to continue advancing, or we're about to crash and burn and get swept under the rug until there's a new civilization after us to rebuild what we destroyed. It's a scary thought, but interesting. There's an amazing quote that I think falls into this discussion (and the actual theory I'll explain down below):

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. Weak men create hard times."

I love this quote, and I think it is a very accurate portrayal of human civilization. Look back into history and you'll agree with me. Alright, I have a lot of information for the law of social cycle so let's get into it (also, there is a lot of Indian vernacular because of the man who coined this theory, so just prepare for that).

Four Types of People

The law of social cycle is a theory of Varna, arising out of the Indian episteme (Inayatullah, 2002). This law states that while people in any society are all relatively similar, they have generally the same goals, desires and ambitions but differ in the way they go about achieving their goals. An individual's specific methods for achieving success depend on his physical and psychological makeup. Essentially, there are four different psychological types of people, warriors, intellectuals, acquisitors and laborers, who find basic fulfillment in four different kinds of ways.

Warriors

Warriors, or Kshatriya in Sanskrit, have strong bodies, vigorous physical energy and a sharp intellect. Warriors tend to develop the skills that take advantage of their inherent gifts of stamina, courage and vigor. Their mentality is one that is not averse to taking physical risks. Examples of people in our society with the warrior mentality include policemen, firemen, soldiers, professional athletes, skilled carpenters, and tradesmen. They all achieve success through their physical skills and a deep understanding of their profession.

Intellectuals

Intellectuals, or Vipra, have a more developed intellect than the warriors, but generally lack the physical strength and vigor. Intellectuals are happiest when they try to achieve success by developing and expressing their intellectual skills and talents. Teachers, writers, professors, scientists, artists, musicians, philosophers, doctors and lawyers, and above all, priests, are professions intellectuals tend to pursue.

Acquisitors

Acquisitors, or Vaishya, have a penchant for acquiring money. If money can be made the acquisitors will find a way to make it. They are not considered as bright as the intellectuals, nor as strong as the warriors, but they are keen when it comes to making and accumulating money and material possessions. Such people are the traders, businessmen, managers, entrepreneurs, bankers, brokers, and landlords in our society.

Laborers

Laborers, or Shudra, are altogether different from the first three groups. Laborers lack the energy and vigor of the warriors, the keen intellect of the intellectuals, or the ambition and drive of the accumulators. In spite of the fact that their contribution to society is profound – in fact, society could not function without them – the other groups generally look down upon and tend to exploit them. The laborers are the peasants, serfs, clerks, short order cooks, waiters, janitors, doormen, cabdrivers, garbage collectors, truck drivers, night watchmen and factory workers who keep society running smoothly by working diligently and without complaint.

Epochs of Social Classes

Groups of each type of people make up the social classes in society. Sarkar simplifies society into four classes, divided by inherent traits:

• Warriors defend the nation and keep the peace;
• Intellectuals develop our ideas about the world, in the form of religion, art, law and new inventions;
• Acquisitors manage the practical aspects of life, including farms, factories, financial institutions and stores;
• Laborers do the routine work, waiting tables, collecting trash, and other low-tech, low skill jobs.

Modern Social Development

According to Batra (1978), the West is currently in the age of acquisitors, also known as Capitalism. This age succeeded the 'age of intellectuals', which gave birth to the Enlightenment and the British parliamentary system. Before that the West went through the 'age of warriors' and the age of discovery. Feudalism, an earlier 'age of acquisitors', reigned before that. It had replaced the 'age of intellectuals', with restrictions on religious thought and also gave birth to the Renaissance period. Before that, Rome ruled the West under the aegis of warriors.

Exploitation & Breakdown

To Sarkar, each age would run its course, with the social motivity going too far, causing much grief to the majority of people (Sarkar, 1967). The situation could go on unchecked for a long time, before things got so bad that a spontaneous revolution and overthrow of the system took place. In fact, as this was the reason for social change, it was clear that no single class of people could remain dominant indefinitely. Social power was destined to pass from one class to next in the prescribed order, or cycle. The 'age of warriors', which brings strict order to society and a return to fundamental values, essentially leads to excessive focus on strong man rule and warfare. It is followed by an 'age of intellectuals', which bring a sense of liberation in the mental sphere but soon replace that freedom with the yoke of newer ideas. Over time this age merges into an 'age of acquisitors', which brings progress in the material sphere, but this is soon replaced by increased physical and mental exploitation. The Servile Wars spelled the doom of the Roman Republic. Labor conflict could be the undoing of Capitalism, according to this theory. And so the cycle moves on its endless round, until the civilization ceases to exist or is taken over by a superior or more powerful civilization.

Preventing the Misery of Exploitation

Sarkar's essential view on the implications of each age was to develop a way to avoid the dynamic of exploitation, when the social motivity of one class goes unchecked and too far (Sarkar, 1967). In such cases, it falls on moralists to accelerate the movement to the next age to shorten the exploitative phase of each age.

Social Progress

In Sarkar's vision social progress is seen to be established on the basis of a new vision of human progress. Sarkar's theory focuses on four basic ages of warriors, intellectuals and acquisitors, as well as a brief age of labourers. During such ages humanity has faced an eternal struggle with each epoch deteriorating into a harmful exploitative phase. Sarkar devises an exit strategy from such a development, based on the role of enlightened moralists, the Sadvipras. It is their role, based on their self-less virtues and ideation on the divine, to apply energy and accelerate social progress when the evolutionary process is caught up in a stasis whereby the ruling class has abandoned its original virtues and through an intense focus on their social agenda inflict misery on the other sections of society.

Let me know what you guys think about this theory. I, for one, am a big fan of this. It's a nice simplicity answer to the existential crisis that I brought out with the possible downfall and destruction of our civilization. I mean, that uneasy feeling is still there. I like that a new age will come, but I don't want to be a casualty in the process.

Maybe I can find a way to sneak my way into that new world like the ancient European priests after barbarians invaded all of ancient Europe. Maybe I can convince the new society that I will be useful to them.

I think I have a lot more to think about now.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

Buh-bye.