SCIENTIFIC HUMANISM: Facts (IX)

9. Economy

We are so absolutely conditioned by what is commonly called "economics" that there is not even an interest in scientifically investigating a different way of doing things that could solve the many and varied problems its application presents us with.?

We cannot function and exist as a society without 'money', without 'property', or without 'trade'. These three iron laws actually govern most human actions. We might add that we also need 'armies', 'weapons' (even of mass destruction), and a large dose of 'violence' to function and exist as a society.?

They have simply been accepted as ad hoc solutions, i.e., tailor-made solutions, without scientific support. Let us analyze, from the point of view of scientific humanism, the first three iron laws of economics: money, property, and trade, to find out why they exist, what is the cause of their problems, and why there seem to be no other solutions, or why no one is interested in looking for them.

What is most striking is the fact that, in spite of the innumerable human industries that have been created, the governments that manage a considerable part of the public goods, and the numerous public institutions dedicated to the service of society, every human being is born completely without everything that he or she will need for his or her future life. In other words, he is not very different from what he would have been if he had been born in the Paleolithic era tens of thousands of years ago.

At least during childhood and adolescence, his parents will have to struggle financially for him, and then he will continue to struggle for his own survival. It does not matter if his parents have already paid enough for his future needs with their taxes and their work, in addition to helping to pay for the needs of their predecessors (pensions) and, of course, those of the "public" services and governments of the whole society in which he lives (taxes). This is what we call the "triple payment": paying for life now (taxes), for the life left to your predecessors (pensions), and for your children in the present.

On the other hand, the incredible corruption, influence peddling and all kinds of criminal and antisocial activities in all areas of public administration in all countries serve to further impoverish human societies, which would otherwise be much more advanced in all aspects.?

Thus, the social benefit of the economy is conspicuous by its absence. Yes, there are infrastructures and some public services, but far fewer than there should be and at a very high real cost.?

The famous and recurring "economic crises" every few years also show us that the system breaks down easily and is repaired at a high social cost, destroying companies, individuals and families.

As we have seen in Chapter 7, money is necessary in the present state of affairs because it guarantees an individual the return and reciprocity of his work. Otherwise, this would not be possible in our present violent and individualistic human societies.

As for "property", we must take into account the fact that there is already a clear trend towards what we call "micro-property". Historically, only the most powerful had all the property, while all others were serfs or slaves in their service.?

Today, as we know, a small group of people in the world own more than 80% of the resources (money, property, etc.). The rest live in what we call the "island of micro-ownership", which basically consists of rentals or mortgage purchases (owned by banks), cars, clothes, and some appliances (TVs, cell phones, etc.). All of this, except for housing, is rapidly aging and needs to be constantly replenished at high cost due to insufficient income.

From another point of view, as early as 1840, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon demonstrated that so-called "private property" has no legal basis.?

Scientific humanism proposes an approach based on cooperation, equality, and the well-being of all individuals in society. Instead of focusing on the accumulation of wealth and property, it seeks to satisfy the basic needs of all members of society and promote their integral development.

In this paradigm, economic exchange would be based on reciprocity and mutual cooperation rather than competition and individual accumulation. People would work together to meet the needs of the community, and fair and equitable distribution systems would be established.

Money could be replaced by systems of exchange based on the real value and utility of goods and services. These systems could be supported by scientific assessment of society's needs and rational planning of available resources. Production would be directed toward satisfying real needs rather than generating monetary benefits.

With regard to property, it would seek a fair redistribution of resources and the elimination of excessive concentration of property in the hands of a few. Common ownership and shared access to resources would be fundamental elements of this model. Responsible use of natural resources would be encouraged, and priority would be given to preserving the environment and the well-being of future generations.

Education would play a central role in this new paradigm. It would promote the holistic education of individuals, fostering their intellectual, emotional, and ethical development. It would seek to cultivate a collective conscience and an ethic of social responsibility, where the good of the community would take precedence over individual interests.

The transition to this new system would require a profound change in society's values, structures, and institutions. A collective commitment would be needed to overcome the barriers imposed by the current economic system and to promote a more humane and sustainable approach.

It will require the active participation of the scientific community, public policy experts, and society at large.

In short, the application of Scientific Humanism and its paradigms offers an alternative to traditional economics, money and property. It proposes an approach based on cooperation, equality, and the well-being of all members of society, with systems of exchange based on the real value and utility of goods and services. It requires a profound change in the values and structures of society, but offers the possibility of creating a more just and sustainable system focused on the integral development of the individual and collective well-being.

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References:

Elinor Ostrom: "Governance of the Commons". Ostrom examines how communities can effectively manage common resources without resorting to private ownership or excessive government regulation. She emphasizes the importance of cooperation and self-governance in resource management.

David Harvey: "Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism. Harvey analyzes the contradictions inherent in the capitalist system and argues that capitalism faces fundamental challenges that may lead to its eventual collapse.

Thomas Piketty: "Capital in the 21st Century". Piketty examines economic inequality and the concentration of wealth throughout history and makes proposals to address these problems, such as progressive wealth taxes.

Naomi Klein: "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism". Klein examines how crises and disasters are used to drive economic policies and reforms that benefit elites and perpetuate inequality.

Peter Joseph: "The New Humanity: An Argument for a New Social System." Joseph proposes a new socioeconomic system based on sustainability, cooperation, and technology that eliminates private property and money as the primary drivers of society.

Avram Noam Chomsky: Related Works

"Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media" (1988) - In this work, written in collaboration with Edward S. Herman, Chomsky examines how the mass media are structured and operate within a political and economic system that promotes disinformation and the manipulation of public opinion.

"Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order" (1999) - Chomsky analyzes neoliberalism as a dominant economic ideology and how it has shaped economic policies and structures worldwide, emphasizing how this approach prioritizes profit over human welfare.

"Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy" (2006) - Chomsky examines the role of world powers in creating and maintaining failed states and how these states are characterized by violence, corruption, and economic exploitation.

"Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power" (2017) - In this book, Chomsky explores the forces that have contributed to the concentration of wealth and power in the United States and how this affects democracy and the lives of ordinary people.

"Who Rules the World?" (2016) - Chomsky analyzes the role of major world powers, primarily the United States, in shaping global politics, international conflict, and economic inequality.