Living beyond Our Psychological Means

Abstract

This chapter examines the bottom-up justification for the formation of the modern nation-state. It suggests that borderless states are dystopian, noting that in order to be democratic and promote justice, states must depend on a clear definition of territory and membership. The chapter elaborates how the borders and demarcation helped individuals define their identity, providing them with interpretive tools to decipher reality and make sense of their daily actions. It then explains the term human, human features, and identity. The chapter also explicates the need to belong to a cultural community, a nation, or any other particular group. It argues that it is an epistemological need for systems of interpretation that will allow us to understand the world and choose a way of life as well as a creative need for means of interpretation, exchange, and expression. Ultimately, the chapter assesses the negative effect of divided communities on human behavior.