Question

Why does slavery preserve the time-honored principles of mutual dependency and hierarchy?

Answer 1

Mutual dependence is the need for a collaborative association for each other when there are limited resource availability and environmental uncertainties prevailing in the society. The principles of mutual dependence state that people should share both materialist and spiritual resources to make a sustainable existence. Mutual dependence can be executed using collaboration strategies.

However, the principles of hierarchy promote a specific order of arrangement of society. That is from upper strata to lower strata. The strata are defined based on the possession of resources, political power, and support from the social system.

Slavery arose from the concept of hierarchy. People with less power and privileges because of poor access to resources, lack of political power, and social protection were forced to serve the privileged class in exchange for mere subsistence level existence. Although there was a mutual dependence between the slaves and their so-called masters, it was overshadowed by the imposing hierarchical framework of the society.  As a result, fairness was non-existent in the system of slavery. It was against human values and rights.