The Dialectic of Challenge and Repost Governs All Games of Honor

It's not clear that our imaginary economist would feel diminished if he received a present or was taken out to dinner by just any one. This too appears to be the case wherever we find society divided into fine gradations of status and dignity. Pierre bordieu has described the dialectic of challenge and repost that governs all games of honor among cabil berber men in algeria. To give a gift is both an honor and a provocation. To respond to one requires infinite artistry. Timing is all important, so as making the counter gift just different enough, but also just slightly grander. Above all is the tacit moral principle that one must always pick on some one one