- Original Poster
- #1
I'm developing some ideas about different economic models that humanity could adopt... totally at the start of this, but I thought i'd share them here with minds that understand this better than I do, to see what your thoughts are. Thanks.
.......
A Self-Less Economy
The basis of the economy is the self-less attitude, i.e. a mindset that thinks of others before self. The self-less mind cares about the happiness and well-being of others, and has no concerns or interest in what it gets back.
So, the farmer - who farms because that is his passion - grows food for a community of 1000 people. Because he has a self-less attitude he provides the food that he grows for free. The people who receive the food also have self-less attitudes, and so they think about the farmer, and they ask him if there is anything that he needs or needs help with - not in exchange for the food, because even if he could not provide food at one point they would still ask, but because they have self-less minds. Anything that the farmer needs or needs help with is provided for him from whoever has what is needed or whoever can provide the help.
This same model applies for each member of the population. Each individuals primary work is the development and sharing of their own interests, passions, skills and talents. If there is a gap missing in the community, i.e. if someones passion is not waste collection and disposal, then the gap is filled voluntarily through each individuals community service. Community service is a joyful role because it is helping the community that provides a system that allows and supports them to live a fulfilling, meaningful life exploring and developing interests and talents.
Whilst a selfish mind assures us of at least one person looking out for us and helping us (us), the self-less mind encourages many others to look out for us and help us, and just as we help others and support them, they too help and support us. This is already how we operate now. We are familiar with this.
Communities might form around certain ideas or functions. For example, those interested in computer development might live in a certain community together. There is no competition. Because everyone has a self-less mind they only wish to see success for each other as well as technologies that are going to help other human beings. If a certain technology is recognised as beneficial to humanity then all the resources needed to produce it will be provided by other communities, again without charge. The products will then be manufactured and delivered to all who want one.
If a community was lacking a certain skill, for example, a doctor, then a doctor from another community would selflessly choose to move their.
If someone wanted something then it would be located on the internet, ordered and then sent to them freely. But people would not want things for their own benefit or to accumulate wealth - in fact, because everyone can have anything they want, their is no concept of material wealth, there is no value in accumulating material resources, and it wouldn’t be seen as desirable in and of itself, since happiness and fulfilment is recognised and experienced as something else. The motivation for acquiring material resources would be simple: ‘it would help me to help others if I had this’.
It should also be considered that because each individuals primary education is in the development of their passions, skills and talents, most people would be what we currently consider to be geniuses. As such, humanity would have access to incredible technologies that would massively enhance our lives, that again would be shared freely for the benefit of all. There would be technologies available that cannot be discussed now because they are beyond current comprehension, as such, as positive as the outline is above, it would likely be much better in reality.
Trust would prevail. If a technology community requested resources it would be done without any hint of suspicion. It would be a given that the technology had been properly researched and developed and was of benefit to humanity because the minds developing the technology would be self-less, and only concerned for the benefit of others.
Humans would be naturally productive for two reasons 1. because they are doing what they love and 2. because they want others to be happy and well and so they want to contribute all that they can. As everyone would recognise this shared mindset everyone would be self managed. No-one would need motivating, and if people needed rest then they would take it without question. No-one would think to take advantage of others or the systems in place.
How would we reach this stage?
First we must understand the possibilities of such a self-less attitude and how it would manifest into communities. Then we must practice developing a self-less mind.
How do we accommodate selfish people?
Some people might not want to become self-less. An education system should be able to nurture a self-less mind in most children. Until then, those who wish to be selfish will be free to do so. We will attempt to convert them with our example, by letting them see how our communities work so well and how happy and fulfilling our lives are as self-less individuals. If they wish to continue to be selfish then, so long as they are not harmful to the community, they will be accommodated, and interaction with them will allow us to continue to develop our self-less attitude. If they are damaging to the community and will not change then they will be asked to leave the community. Other communities will then welcome them and provide them with a new opportunity to become self-less. This cycle will continue until the individual converts to a self-less path. Each community will welcome the opportunity to accommodate them and demonstrate true selflessness. Each successful conversion will be shared with other communities so as to gain a better understanding of how a selfish mind can be accommodated and converted. Those who are converted will be encouraged to travel and share their conversion so as to inspire others.
Won’t I be taken advantage of?
Only a selfish mind can perceive itself as being taken advantage of. A self-less mind wants to help, it wants to be of service, it wants what it has to give to be used - it wants to be taken advantage of. However, there comes a point - a point only we can discern - where our helping another only enables them, disempowers them, makes them dependent. A selfless mind will recognise that our help no longer helps but hinders, and at that point it will say no.
.......
A Self-Less Economy
The basis of the economy is the self-less attitude, i.e. a mindset that thinks of others before self. The self-less mind cares about the happiness and well-being of others, and has no concerns or interest in what it gets back.
So, the farmer - who farms because that is his passion - grows food for a community of 1000 people. Because he has a self-less attitude he provides the food that he grows for free. The people who receive the food also have self-less attitudes, and so they think about the farmer, and they ask him if there is anything that he needs or needs help with - not in exchange for the food, because even if he could not provide food at one point they would still ask, but because they have self-less minds. Anything that the farmer needs or needs help with is provided for him from whoever has what is needed or whoever can provide the help.
This same model applies for each member of the population. Each individuals primary work is the development and sharing of their own interests, passions, skills and talents. If there is a gap missing in the community, i.e. if someones passion is not waste collection and disposal, then the gap is filled voluntarily through each individuals community service. Community service is a joyful role because it is helping the community that provides a system that allows and supports them to live a fulfilling, meaningful life exploring and developing interests and talents.
Whilst a selfish mind assures us of at least one person looking out for us and helping us (us), the self-less mind encourages many others to look out for us and help us, and just as we help others and support them, they too help and support us. This is already how we operate now. We are familiar with this.
Communities might form around certain ideas or functions. For example, those interested in computer development might live in a certain community together. There is no competition. Because everyone has a self-less mind they only wish to see success for each other as well as technologies that are going to help other human beings. If a certain technology is recognised as beneficial to humanity then all the resources needed to produce it will be provided by other communities, again without charge. The products will then be manufactured and delivered to all who want one.
If a community was lacking a certain skill, for example, a doctor, then a doctor from another community would selflessly choose to move their.
If someone wanted something then it would be located on the internet, ordered and then sent to them freely. But people would not want things for their own benefit or to accumulate wealth - in fact, because everyone can have anything they want, their is no concept of material wealth, there is no value in accumulating material resources, and it wouldn’t be seen as desirable in and of itself, since happiness and fulfilment is recognised and experienced as something else. The motivation for acquiring material resources would be simple: ‘it would help me to help others if I had this’.
It should also be considered that because each individuals primary education is in the development of their passions, skills and talents, most people would be what we currently consider to be geniuses. As such, humanity would have access to incredible technologies that would massively enhance our lives, that again would be shared freely for the benefit of all. There would be technologies available that cannot be discussed now because they are beyond current comprehension, as such, as positive as the outline is above, it would likely be much better in reality.
Trust would prevail. If a technology community requested resources it would be done without any hint of suspicion. It would be a given that the technology had been properly researched and developed and was of benefit to humanity because the minds developing the technology would be self-less, and only concerned for the benefit of others.
Humans would be naturally productive for two reasons 1. because they are doing what they love and 2. because they want others to be happy and well and so they want to contribute all that they can. As everyone would recognise this shared mindset everyone would be self managed. No-one would need motivating, and if people needed rest then they would take it without question. No-one would think to take advantage of others or the systems in place.
How would we reach this stage?
First we must understand the possibilities of such a self-less attitude and how it would manifest into communities. Then we must practice developing a self-less mind.
How do we accommodate selfish people?
Some people might not want to become self-less. An education system should be able to nurture a self-less mind in most children. Until then, those who wish to be selfish will be free to do so. We will attempt to convert them with our example, by letting them see how our communities work so well and how happy and fulfilling our lives are as self-less individuals. If they wish to continue to be selfish then, so long as they are not harmful to the community, they will be accommodated, and interaction with them will allow us to continue to develop our self-less attitude. If they are damaging to the community and will not change then they will be asked to leave the community. Other communities will then welcome them and provide them with a new opportunity to become self-less. This cycle will continue until the individual converts to a self-less path. Each community will welcome the opportunity to accommodate them and demonstrate true selflessness. Each successful conversion will be shared with other communities so as to gain a better understanding of how a selfish mind can be accommodated and converted. Those who are converted will be encouraged to travel and share their conversion so as to inspire others.
Won’t I be taken advantage of?
Only a selfish mind can perceive itself as being taken advantage of. A self-less mind wants to help, it wants to be of service, it wants what it has to give to be used - it wants to be taken advantage of. However, there comes a point - a point only we can discern - where our helping another only enables them, disempowers them, makes them dependent. A selfless mind will recognise that our help no longer helps but hinders, and at that point it will say no.
