Where to begin...
The first thing that we have to do is establish what the "gumption traps" are to making change happen in the world. The first one we have to tackle is "human nature." We have all been in a conversation with a defender of the status quo and probably had them on the ropes. Frankly, it is hard to defend this or this. At some point though the conversation will turn toward solutions and the best that most leftists can come up with is a fairer distribution of wealth, and the wealthy sacrificing (or something along these lines). At this point, our status quo friend says, "aha, that is contrary to human nature." And then they gleefully go and get another drink, as you sit frustrated because you don't know where to go next. Today, I hope to give you some ammo.
The common understanding of this concept of human nature is this; "selfishness with meaness/lack of caring". Let's unpack this. It is not only that people do things in their best interest (they do), but they will harm others in the process, or at the least not care about the obvious consequences of their actions. This has actually created ideologies in Economics, such as the idea that business is "amoral". Not immoral, not moral, but simply lacking a moral quality. Thus, profit, even if it hurts people, is essential and morally acceptable. Now corporations DO behave in this way as they have charters which dictate the rules of profit above all else, but people do not. Yes, even the people in the corporations. They are not truly making decisions so much as they are following rules dictated by the corporate charter. Should they choose to not do something they consider immoral, they will get replaced and the new VP will do what the corporation needs to make profit. Thus, in the corporate world the view is that selfishness (profit) is to be earned at any cost (morality).
This view has come to dominate our thinking about how individuals behave, but it is seriously flawed. The idea that people will stomp on someone else just to get a little ahead, unfortunately, has several obvious examples to which people will point. Traffic: The driver not getting in line and cutting to the front, thus inconveniencing all the cars waiting to get through the construction. But, wait, how many cars were actually doing the right thing? Why do we let ourselves watch the asshole and make assumptions about people from that? This leads me to the simple conclusion below.
Human nature is NOT "selfish with meanness or lack or caring". A cursory reading of Anthropology will tell you that there are many different lifestyles in the world, and no one would have called the Bushmen of the Kalahari selfish. And yes, the Bushmen are Homo Sapiens Sapiens just like everyone else on the planet. In fact, investigate your daily actions: taking care of kids, elderly, using your turn signals, lifting the toilet seat, and etc. The vast majority of what we do on a daily basis is actually compassionate and empathetic with our fellow humans. No doubt that a few have so totally bought into the "corporate" view as above that they act like assholes all the time, but they are the vast minority.
What people do is not selfishness per se but, in the lingo of Economics, they seek to "maximize their utility." This can have a financial element but it may include things such as leisure time, family, hobbies, community connection and etc. In a market society, financial concerns are more important than in a more egalitarian society, but they still only comprise a small element of how we make decisions.
The conclusion is that corporate nature is selfish and mean, but human nature is about "maximing utility" which is not the same thing as selfishness.
This will require more attention later, but it is a good start for getting people to understand that the people with power and influence have created an ideology to defend their accumulation of wealth and power. The concept of human nature, as it is commonly accepted, is the main lynchpin in their argument. If human nature is inherently selfish and mean then there is nothing to be done - so be selfish and mean yourself. This must be attacked first and foremost.
The common understanding of this concept of human nature is this; "selfishness with meaness/lack of caring". Let's unpack this. It is not only that people do things in their best interest (they do), but they will harm others in the process, or at the least not care about the obvious consequences of their actions. This has actually created ideologies in Economics, such as the idea that business is "amoral". Not immoral, not moral, but simply lacking a moral quality. Thus, profit, even if it hurts people, is essential and morally acceptable. Now corporations DO behave in this way as they have charters which dictate the rules of profit above all else, but people do not. Yes, even the people in the corporations. They are not truly making decisions so much as they are following rules dictated by the corporate charter. Should they choose to not do something they consider immoral, they will get replaced and the new VP will do what the corporation needs to make profit. Thus, in the corporate world the view is that selfishness (profit) is to be earned at any cost (morality).
This view has come to dominate our thinking about how individuals behave, but it is seriously flawed. The idea that people will stomp on someone else just to get a little ahead, unfortunately, has several obvious examples to which people will point. Traffic: The driver not getting in line and cutting to the front, thus inconveniencing all the cars waiting to get through the construction. But, wait, how many cars were actually doing the right thing? Why do we let ourselves watch the asshole and make assumptions about people from that? This leads me to the simple conclusion below.
Human nature is NOT "selfish with meanness or lack or caring". A cursory reading of Anthropology will tell you that there are many different lifestyles in the world, and no one would have called the Bushmen of the Kalahari selfish. And yes, the Bushmen are Homo Sapiens Sapiens just like everyone else on the planet. In fact, investigate your daily actions: taking care of kids, elderly, using your turn signals, lifting the toilet seat, and etc. The vast majority of what we do on a daily basis is actually compassionate and empathetic with our fellow humans. No doubt that a few have so totally bought into the "corporate" view as above that they act like assholes all the time, but they are the vast minority.
What people do is not selfishness per se but, in the lingo of Economics, they seek to "maximize their utility." This can have a financial element but it may include things such as leisure time, family, hobbies, community connection and etc. In a market society, financial concerns are more important than in a more egalitarian society, but they still only comprise a small element of how we make decisions.
The conclusion is that corporate nature is selfish and mean, but human nature is about "maximing utility" which is not the same thing as selfishness.
This will require more attention later, but it is a good start for getting people to understand that the people with power and influence have created an ideology to defend their accumulation of wealth and power. The concept of human nature, as it is commonly accepted, is the main lynchpin in their argument. If human nature is inherently selfish and mean then there is nothing to be done - so be selfish and mean yourself. This must be attacked first and foremost.
Comments
Post a Comment