Erving Goffman: Taxes Instincts

Posted by admin on Monday, November 23, 2020

Erving Goffman Money Quote saying Taxes are for humans like instincts are for animals. Erving Goffman said:
 

 

“Man is not like other animals in the ways that are really significant: animals have instincts, we have taxes” — Erving Goffman

 

 

In this quote, Erving Goffman seems to be highlighting a key difference between humans and other animals – our relationship with money and financial obligations. By stating that while animals have “instincts”, humans have “taxes”, Goffman implies that where animals are driven primarily by innate biological urges, human behavior is also shaped by socioeconomic factors like managed revenue collection for governments.

The quote conveys Goffman’s perspective that the human experience, unlike other creatures, necessarily involves navigating responsibilities to contribute funds that support public services and infrastructure. Overall, he appears to be arguing that financial responsibilities stemming from organized society distinguish the human condition from our animal brethren governed more directly by evolutionary hardwiring alone.

Birthday: June 11, 1922 – November 19, 1982

Categories: taxes Tagged:erving goffmantaxes