The Price of Civilization

Chapter 9The Mindful Society

Steps toward a new American economy, a healthier society, and a more ethical basis for the study and practice of economics

Problems begin at home, with the choices we are making as individuals

“relentless drumbeat of consumerism” has lead to extreme shortsightedness, consumer addictions, and the shriveling of compassion

The Mindful Society

Mindful society: one in which we once again take seriously our own well-being, our relations with others, and the operation of our politics

Future belongs to America’s youth Millennial Generation: people between the

ages of 18 and 29 in 2010 who are socially connected, Internet-savvy, and searching for a new mode of social involvement and political engagement.

Obama “seems more likely to be a transitional figure than a transformative one”

Our Future

Two of the greatest ethicists in human history: Buddha in the East and Aristotle in the West

Long-term happiness of humanity “The Middle Path” (Buddha, 5th century BC) keeps

humanity balanced between the false allures of asceticism and pleasure seeking

Aristotle (3rd century BC): moderation in all things is the key to eudemonia (human fulfillment)

The Middle Path

Hard path; “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is self.” (Aristotle)

Libertarianism of the free-market Right: the freedom of the individual is the only valid aim of ethics and government

Tea Party and America’s richest The biggest error: individuals can find happiness

by being left alone, unburdened by ethical or political responsibilities

Happiness arises through relationship with wealth and relations with others

Challenging the Middle Path

Compassion, mutual help, and collective decision making good for those who receive help (poor) and those who give (rich)

One of the eight steps on the way to self-awakening

An alertness and quiet contemplation of our circumstances, putting aside greed and distress

Eight crucial dimensions:◦ Self: moderation of consumerism◦ Work: balancing work and leisure◦ Knowledge: education◦ Others: compassion and cooperation◦ Nature: conservation of Mother Earth◦ Future: saving for the future◦ Politics: public involvement in government◦ World: acceptance of diversity

Mindfulness

Good governance, more trust, happier married life, more time for friends, and meaningful and secure work > money

Collective action More income = more buyer’s remorse (a

regret about the level of consumption and a desire to cut back)

Materialist: person for whom earning and spending money are a central aim of life◦ Far less happy and secure

Money, money, money

Once society reaches per capita income of $3000, life expectancy generally 70+ years

Chile: 1/5 US’s GDP per capita, higher life expectancy than US

Costa Rica, Greece, South Korea, and Portugal: much poor than the US, but have higher life expectancies

US has one of the highest per capita incomes, but is only ranked around 17th for life satisfaction

Personal happiness depends on our attitude toward income and how we use it

Life Expectancy

1. Cognitive◦ Study sources of happiness◦ Learn to enrich our lives by the quality of our

relationships and generosity to others

2. Reflective or meditative◦ Propaganda used to change our interests by appealing

to emotions, especially fear or pleasure◦ Aims to unplug the mind from daily sensory overload

to regain a balance with longer-term needs

3. Practice◦ Aristotle: “We foster virtue by practicing virtue.”◦ Virtuous qualities are self-reinforcing◦ Acts of compassion awaken our desire to be more

compassionate

Restoring Mindfulness

Meaningful Work Unemployment is the single largest factor in the

public’s unhappiness Libertarian: worker representation in company

decision making would ruin US competitiveness But Europe! Active Labor Market Policies:

use government funding to match workers to jobs and to improve targeted job training for skills that are demanded

Dalia Lama Tibetan Buddhism: keeps doors open to

science and doctrines are open to revision based on new scientific evidence

Technology allows us to be scientifically illiterate, but still benefit from advancements

Should use technology to learn about science, in order to spurt knowledge and more advances

84% of Americans “see science as having a mostly positive effect on society.”

Buddhist Science

The complexity of our economy and the need for scientific expertise to manage it

Preindustrial knowledge only supports only around 10% of the planet’s population

Need respect for expertise and democratic governance◦ Federal government sucks at encouraging an informed debate about policy options◦ See: healthcare

Anarcho Prim: Does it solve?

Mindfulness of others is much stronger within groups, rather than across racial/ethnic divides

Poverty trap: a system of handouts, in which the poor are not helped enough to overcome poverty but just barely enough to survive in poverty

Need proactive, not reactive policies More public funding to provide healthy diet,

quality preschool and public school, and access to higher education for this generation’s low income students

Bob Putnam’s “hunkering down”

Reviving Compassion

Much more removed from nature – especially rich Human impact is so great that we threaten

the planet’s core biophysical functioning Americans: highest per capita impact, least

regard for actions Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe: human-

induced climate change is the “greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”

Big Oil and Coal’s power stops politicians

Ecological Overshoot

Infrastructure worth building cannot be “shovel-ready”

Taking moral and practical ownership of the long-term consequences of our actions and to trace those consequences as carefully as possible into the far future

Hans Jonas: we need a new ethic for the future; never before has a human generation been able to make or break the next

Futurology

National Intelligence Council’s study of the US’s challenges in 2025◦ Climate change = scarce resources◦ Demand outnumbers supply◦ Lack of access to stable supplies of water◦ Economic shocks and surprises because of above

Washington does nothing◦ Budgets are yearly◦ “Kick the can” on issues

Futurology

Provide an antidote to the dead end of corporatocracy

Americans need to learn to balance Need private businesses in market

economies Also need to stop them from lobbying and

propagandizing

Balance of Politics

1. Ideological◦ Mistaken belief that free markets can solve the

economy alone◦ We need free markets and government

operations

2. Institutional◦ Political role of large corporations◦ “License to operate as a company does not

include a license to pollute our politics.”

3. Moral◦ The nature of modern democracy◦ Very little public deliberation/involvement

Overcoming 3 Crises

Readiness to adopt global norms for the good of all nations

World is deeply interconnected; everything affects everyone◦ Wall Street crisis, AIDS/H1N1/Plague

Political cooperation around the world Deep distrust and growing competition over

scarce resources hurts mindfulness

Mindfulness of the World

Diverse religious traditions share fundamental ethical standards regarding economic life and behavior

Principle of Humanity◦ “Being human must be the ethical yardstick for all

economic action.”◦ Economy should fulfill the basic needs of humans

“so that hey can live in dignity.”

Hans Küng’s Global Economic Ethic

Importance of respect and tolerance of others

Right to life and its developments Sustainable treatment of our society Rule of law Distributive justice and solidarity The essential values of truthfulness,

honesty, and reliability Core value of mutual esteem

Universal Ethical Themes

“Let us not be blind to our differences – but let us also direct attention to our common interests… so at least we can help make the world safe for diversity … We are all mortal.”

Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963◦ Limited all detonations of test nukes except underground◦ Soviet Union, UK, and US

JFK