[Dimensio]

Your 'Candidean' assessment of the foundation of the rights to property, the exclusivity of marriage relations, etc. is based, it seems to me, on the belief that humankind will always do the rational and prudent thing.

I think I misstated something. I never intended to imply that humans are ever rational and prudent. I've typically seen humans as very often quite selfish (not completely self-centered, but small-focused) and short-sighted. Humans tend to behave themselves in societies partly because they ultimately benefit from doing so. (there are other motivations -- for example, most people probably never commit murder not just because of legal restrictions but also because they've never wanted to do it).

[headsonpikes]

Well, sometimes humans are rational and prudent.

Just not reliably. ;^)