[^2] Accordingly...

[^2] Accordingly, man, in his relationship with the environment, was predisposed to utilize all possi­ble resources to satisfy his needs and increase his pleasure. In due time, he was willing to use animals and plant to help him in his struggle against the environment. Although his essential needs were simple in the early period of history, his mental capacities enabled him to devel­op new means to help him utilize the resources of the environment.

Thus his needs are always expanding due to the complexity of utilizing the resources of the environment. Man's relationship with others of his kind was the natural outcome of his need to satisfy his desires. The complexity of life, arising from his relationship with the environment, made it difficult for him to cope adequately with his needs. Cooperation with others made the effort to satisfy his needs manageable.

Cooperation with others result in a shar­ing of benefit with all participant in the community. [^3] The inner instinct of self-love that drove man to create the first community are evident. These instinct gave rise to man's exploitation of his brother. Because people were not equal in their physical and mental capacities, they obviously differed in their utilization of the resources of the environment.

Such differentiation of capabilities is part of the divine plan for bringing about cohesion through the division of labour to the human community. People of different capabilities function in different tasks within the social order. [^4] However, man's desire to maximize his interest drove some men to exploit the situation for their benefit. Human needs were growing due to man's mental and economic development. His experience broadened his capacities to utilize the resources of his environment.

His passion to acquire more of the environmental resources for himself became prevalent. Consequent­ly, some men were willing to oppress others to satisfy their greed and egos (both outcome of self-love). It was then that the human com­munity faced oppression in the form of economic exploitation. This conflict between social peace and individual instinct of maximizing interest was persistent throughout history.

This historical conflict, Sadr argues, is between two classes: those individuals who control the environmental resources (economic and social) and endeavour to protect their interest, and the rest of the society which strives to live in peace and cooperation.