When discussing the evolution of human civilization, we often focus on technological breakthroughs or the development of political systems. Yet, beneath these grand narratives lies a far more fundamental driving force: the concept of producing a 'surplus.'
Agriculture and the Birth of Surplus
The transition from a hunter-gatherer existence to an agricultural one marked one of the most significant turning points in human history. As agriculture, particularly centered around staple food crops, became established, humanity could finally produce more food than was strictly necessary for immediate survival. This was the genesis of the food surplus.
This surplus was not merely a quantitative increase; it was a necessary condition for the formation of civilization itself. With a surplus of food, not everyone had to be directly involved in its production. A portion of the population was freed from farming, allowing them to pursue other roles. What did they do? Instead of tilling the soil and planting seeds, they began developing tools and techniques (technicians), providing spiritual guidance (priests), defending the community from threats (warriors), and organizing and managing increasingly complex societies (administrators). This differentiation of roles fostered specialization and division of labor, leading to increased productivity and the growing complexity of social structures.
Surplus Accumulation and the Reshaping of Society
The accumulation of surplus food inevitably led to questions of power and distribution. Who would possess and control the surplus? Who would decide how it was distributed? These questions naturally gave rise to a stratified social structure. Groups capable of effectively controlling and managing the surplus gained power and formed the upper echelons of society.
Agriculture also encouraged human settlement. This permanence solidified the concepts of private property and land ownership. The idea that the land you cultivated and the grain you stored were 'yours' became deeply ingrained. These developments—surplus, settlement, private property, and the challenge of distribution—collectively formed the powerful foundation that propelled the emergence of class, the state, cities, and codified laws. The physical and social framework of human civilization was erected upon this base.
The Feedback Loop of Surplus and Technology
The growing food surplus also continuously demanded technological innovation. Technology was essential to produce more surplus, store it safely, and manage it efficiently. And in turn, technological advancements dramatically increased agricultural efficiency, creating a potent 'feedback loop.'
Early agriculture relied on rudimentary methods like sowing seeds by hand and harvesting with simple sickles. However, the introduction of plows drawn by oxen or horses dramatically increased the area that could be cultivated and boosted productivity. Inventions crucial to civilization's foundation, such as pottery to prevent spoilage, irrigation systems for larger fields, centralized granaries for storing surplus grain, and standardized weights and measures for trade and distribution, all emerged during this era. Surplus drove technological progress, and technological progress seemed to foster an ever-greater surplus in a seemingly virtuous cycle.
The Shadow Cast by Surplus
Up to this point, surplus might sound like an unmitigated blessing—the engine that built civilizations, advanced technology, and propelled humanity forward. However, every great discovery and every leap forward invariably casts a shadow. Surplus was no exception.
Surplus ultimately created hierarchy, and hierarchy is predicated on power. Those who held power desired even more surplus and strove to protect the surplus and authority they possessed. Herein lay the problem. Human desires are boundless. While humanity achieved progress through surplus, it also entered an era of competition, conflict, and war—all driven by the desire to protect or seize that surplus and the power structure it supported.
Agricultural output increased steadily, yet, ironically, there were times when it could not keep pace with population growth, or when resources became scarce in specific regions. This imbalance exacerbated internal power struggles over the surplus and initiated external territorial wars to secure more land and resources. A humanity that could now eat its fill began to develop techniques for efficiently destroying one another.
The Chilling Paradox: Who Becomes 'Surplus'?
Yet, one of the most ironic and unsettling truths that emerged within the power structures created by surplus is the question of who, in fact, became the 'surplus human.' It wasn't the non-agricultural population—the technicians, priests, or administrators—who were freed from production. They, quite the opposite, leveraged the surplus to become the core stratum managing and distributing it, gaining status and power.
The most chilling phenomenon in agricultural societies was that the 'surplus' did not consist of those who did not produce, but rather of the lower strata who labored to produce the surplus but were impoverished. They produced the very foundation of civilization—the surplus—yet were excluded from its distribution, becoming 'leftover' or expendable beings who struggled for survival. The ruling class needed their labor, but their individual lives and well-being were treated as disposable resources, readily sacrificed.
A Paradox Echoed in Modern Organizations
This paradox of surplus is not confined to ancient agricultural societies. This structural contradiction, born thousands of years ago, is strikingly echoed in the dynamics of modern organizations today.
In contemporary corporations, 'surplus' manifests primarily as profits, earnings, and accumulated capital. This surplus capital is used as the engine for sustainable organizational growth through reinvestment, innovation, expansion, and shareholder dividends. This mirrors how surplus food sustained and advanced ancient civilizations.
However, the irony persists in today's organizations. The very individuals who directly generate the company's surplus—those on the production lines, those facing customers, those who create value at the front lines—are often the first to be labeled 'surplus labor' or 'redundant' and laid off when economic conditions worsen or restructuring occurs. While those holding power and capital tend to retain their positions through crises, the producers who created the company's surplus can easily become 'surplus.' This structure... doesn't it make you wonder if the chilling paradox of agricultural society, where the producing farmer became the 'surplus human,' is repeating itself across millennia?
Between Growth and Shadow
Human civilization has advanced remarkably through the production of surplus, and modern society enjoys material prosperity thanks to the surplus generated by organizations. Yet, we have also suffered under the dark shadow of inequality and stratification created by surplus, and the tragic irony of the producer being relegated to 'surplus human' status.
From the dawn of agricultural society to the era of modern corporations, we witness both the light and the shadow that the concept of 'surplus' brings. Facing this uncomfortable truth hidden behind the narrative of growth, and deeply considering who should never be treated as 'surplus'—these are the fundamental questions we must ask ourselves. Finding the answers to these questions, and seeking paths toward sustainable development and human-centered organizations—this is the essential task before us if we are to achieve true 'innovation.'
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