Table 1

Systems of survival: the guardian and commercial moral syndromes

Guardian moral syndromeCommercial moral syndrome

  • Shun trading

  • Exert prowess

  • Be obedient and disciplined

  • Adhere to tradition

  • Respect hierarchy

  • Be loyal

  • Take vengeance

  • Deceive for the sake of the task

  • Make rich use of leisure

  • Be ostentatious

  • Dispense largesse

  • Be exclusive

  • Show fortitude

  • Be fatalistic

  • Treasure honour

  • Shun force

  • Come to voluntary agreements

  • Be honest

  • Collaborate with strangers

  • Compete

  • Respect contracts

  • Use initiative and enterprise

  • Be open to inventiveness and novelty

  • Be efficient

  • Promote comfort and convenience

  • Dissent for the sake of the task

  • Invest for productive purposes

  • Be industrious

  • Be thrifty

  • Be optimistic