I don’t know, some of us (not me) have pretty good instincts when it comes to resources. We are aware that money = resources. The system by which we get resources may be artificial, but it seems to me a pretty natural thing for an intelligent species to put together. Not everyone can do the same thing, we’re not like ants where we have defined roles (at least not obviously). Money kind of seems like a natural development in a post specialization world. One thing that can be used to trade for all things. You might not be interested in a shirt for your crop, but you’ll sure as shit take a note that can get you anything you want.

I don’t know, I’m just some uneducated idiot from nowhere. That said, I don’t imagine that money is the final development for our species, at least I hope not.

People would be easily conned if it wasn’t money. I can imagine a world where some jackass walks up to someone and says, “ahhhh! You look like a man who likes to eat! I see you defending that berry bush there, and I don’t blame you. It’s a swell bush. What if I were to tell you that I met a man who can turn just one quarter of that bush into a year round supply of fresh berries. Look at me, look how fat I am. I didn’t get this way eating from one bush for one season. No siree. I got this way because this man shared his secret with me. You let me leave with a basket of berries, exactly a quarter of your bush, and I’ll return with enough blessed seeds to feed you for a lifetime! Your bushes will grow in the dead of winter! You won’t have to stand here defending it anymore. It would take an entire population to rob you of all your fruit.”

We do have natural defenses when it comes to our resources, and that actually explains greed a bit. I’ve known people who are so generous with money they don’t have yet, because it isn’t a resource that needs protecting yet. “As soon as I sell this place I’ll have 2.5 million and I’m going to look out for you.” Gets 2.5 million, never hear from him again. Now that he has the resources, his instincts kick in for him to protect those resources.

Edit: Coming back for a little more because it hit me, I do have instincts about resources. I want to make sure the entire tribe survives, so I spread my resources around as I get them and work for free haha. Damn my instincts. Can’t have shit.

Brain is wired to assess property. Walk into a mother bear’s den and she will tell you all about it.