| ilya_shambat2004@yahoo.com 2006-04-10, 11:29 am |
| There is a presumption among many, pursuant classical economics, that
people are driven what is called rational self-interest, which is
equated with interest in accumulation of property.
That is an article of faith that falls apart under examination.
>From the position of each person, in reference to the world, there is
perspective toward self and perspective toward others. In relation to
which, each person can be said to possess self-interest and
other-interest. There are some people - including Ayn Rand - who
believe that man is only himself and that all interest is a form of
self-interest. There are others who believe that man is evolved as part
of humanity and that therefore that all interest is a form of
species-interest. Of course there are both, and it functions
differently in different people. If humanity has evolved, then it has
done so both as individuals and as species; which means that interest
in one's own good and interest in the good of the species are part of
human makeup. And any creationist worldview likewise recognizes the
same: That there is man; that there is mankind; and that man is both
man and part of mankind.
Furthermore, for each person, self-interest is different. There are
unquestionably some who are driven by property; but there are many
others who are driven by interest in knowledge and wisdom, or by
interest in legacy, or by interest in service, or by interest in
beautiful life, or by interest in improving their lives or the lives of
others in ways that matter to them. The scientist who is driven by
interest in knowledge is just as rational, if not more so, than the
person who is interested in accumulation of wealth. The teacher who is
driven by interest in raising the future generation is just as
rational, if not more so, than either of the preceding. The policeman
or military officer or diplomat who is driven by interest in securing
peace for his community or serving his country is likewise driven by a
perfectly rational interest. And the same is the case for the people
interested in making life more just, or in guiding people who are
disenfranchised to better places, or in developing new ideas that can
improve lives for many other people, or in helping people have better
relationships, or in creating beautiful work that celebrates the
civilization and enriches the lives of the members and gives it
legitimate sense of accomplishment and inspires the future generations
to similar and greater heights.
A new useful theory in psychology is a theory of multiple
intelligences. This theory states that there are many different forms
of intellect of which people are capable, and that different people
have different intelligences to different extents. Thus, there is no
single function for intelligence; there are many functions for
intelligence. The same is true for the natures that are present within
humanity; and pursuant them the interest they have most need of
fulfilling, the interest they are most interested in pursuing, and the
liberty that is to them most dear.
There are people who are fulfilled by property; there are others who
are fulfilled by achievement, legacy, service, meaning, beautiful
relationships, wholesome family life, and wisdom and intellect that
cater to and make possible the preceding. The good of the existing and
yet to exist is enhanced by there being talented and dedicated people
in education and police work and diplomacy; it is enhanced by there
being wisdom that helps people to be empowered for personal happiness
and people dedicated to helping people to actualize that wisdom. It is
enhanced by there being great works of architecture and technology and
science and medicine and space program and music and film and graphic
arts. It is enhanced by all forms of intelligence having a path to
impart of their riches, in the act of fulfilling the form of interest
that they are most competent to fulfill. Indeed all these are
legitimate aspects of human existence, and they are enhanced by people
taking the path to which they are most suited - applying the form of
intellect they have the most - to fulfilling the nature and interest of
the people that they have most aptitude to fulfill and whose
fulfillment they find most meaningful - and being likewise
compensated for their efforts in a way that matters to them.
The concept behind economics is that happiness is actualized through
people fulfilling their monetary self-interest. Given the multiple
levels of human nature, it can be said better that happiness is
actualized through people fulfilling their interest, whether it be
monetarily denominated or not, as a function of the natures that live
within them and the interests that are present as a result. Which means
the following: There are many rational forms of interest, both
self-interest and other-interest, and to reduce the totality of human
existence to one out of many forms of interest is to do humanity a
grave disservice. Quite simply, it is wrong to believe that everyone
has single form of interest, whether self-interest or not and whether
rational or not. This is the same error that was made by Marx in
assuming that there is a single value function of collective benefit,
and that people would pursue it if properly educated or coerced by
force.
The diverseness of people and the multiple levels of human nature mean
that there are many legitimate, informed and rational forms of
interest, both self-directed and other-directed, as function of those
levels of nature; and that happiness means different things for
different people, as function of both having those levels of nature
fulfilled by other people's agency - and imparting of gifts that
their natures are most competent to impart.
Given these multiple levels of human nature and human interest, it
further follows that people have different basic values and derive
meaningful existence from participation different pursuits. And thus
people find life that is worth living, on individual basis, by finding
a way to path that is suited for them according to their nature.
Given these multiple levels of human nature and human interest,
furthermore, it follows that freedom means different things to
different people. This is likewise is inevitable from the fact that
there are multiple forms of human nature, which are present in
different people to different extents. The government is prevented from
becoming tyrannical through different branches of government working
within framework of checks-and-balances. And liberty, as it matters to
people on individual basis, is served through mindsets and interests
doing the same thing among each other.
Therefore, a civilization that truly allows meaningful life, inclusive
liberty and pursuit of happiness for its citizens as it matters to them
on the individual basis is one that recognizes multiple levels of human
nature and allows for all of them a functional and legitimate path that
allows people to apply their talents to fulfilling the forms of
interest that they are most equipped to fulfill - and from which
other people can have accomplished the form of utility that matters to
their own natures.
Given the multiplicity of human natures and talents and intelligences
and interests within humanity, it therefore is incorrect to believe
that the entire human nature can be reduced to a single form of
interest or single definition of freedom or single definition of
meaningful existence. There are many forms of rational and legitimate
interest, both self-interest and other-interest, and they are natural
to different people to different extents. In making a single approach -
a result of addressing a single form of interest - universal, what is
accomplished is bludgeoning people into the same mentality and the same
supposed nature and supposed interest, even if it is to them completely
ill-fitting. Which does not serve any liberty or happiness or even life
worthy of having, and is only done through extreme disfigurement, which
requires in many cases coercive and malicious tactics. What is created,
is a single mindset that is bullied into the heads of everyone, and a
single path controlling everyone's minds and efforts and ultimately, by
becoming the substance of their minds, controlling their lives that are
a function of their minds in pursuit of these indoctrinated beliefs.
And what is accomplished is, in effect, de facto tyranny; a tyranny of
a single mindset, bludgeoned into everyone's heads, and in that
manner controlling the reality of everyone's lives.
I believe that life and liberty and happiness deserve better.
I do not advocate socialism, and I do not advocate communism. I
advocate something that builds on the status quo, based on what has
worked well in it. I am applying here two concepts that have worked
wonders: The concept of competition and the concept of
checks-and-balances. I take it to a higher level. And that is as
follows:
For there to be multiple paths based on fulfillment of multiple forms
of self-interest and other-interest, is to achieve, through these paths
struggling among each other, the optimal outcome for the people -
As they check and balance among each other, for them to prevent any
form of nature or mindset from being tyrannical and thus to create
meaningful freedom -
And in the process allowing people to find the place in these paths in
which they, according to their talents and propensities, contribute
their best toward that outcome and thus have fulfilling lives.
Now I am saying this based on the computation that, as far as a
people's good is affected - the good that is a result of the
natures that are present in them and thus of the form of interest that
is to them most significant - there are many forms of good that can
be created, which serve the totality of human nature and thus the
totality of human happiness.
The multiple levels of human nature means this: That there are many
forms of good that people are capable of fulfilling; and many others
that they would demand. The multiple natures and multiple intelligences
mean that there are different things that people legitimately may
demand, and different things that they may be equipped to supply.
"Things" here do not merely mean consumable goods; they also mean
anything that can fulfill one or another form of nature, mindset and
interest. They mean everything from physical, intellectual, emotional
and spiritual nourishment, to addressing common concerns, to educating
the youth, to improving relationships, to creating embodied artistic,
architectural, technological and literary legacy of the civilization.
To address which are created multiple paths, in which people contribute
the intelligence that they have most present to fulfill the interest
they are most suited to fulfill and most interested in fulfilling, and
from addressing which interest the people derive most meaning and thus
arrive at most meaningful life.
And as they struggle among each other - as do branches of American
government within the context of checks-and-balances - they ensure
that none of them (and with that, neither interest; neither approach;
neither intelligence; neither nature) becomes omnipotent and
tyrannical, and that true liberty of people is served.
With there being multiple forms of interest, and there being paths
catering to those interests, it becomes possible further for people on
individual basis to find freedom that is significant for them. The
entirety of human nature is fulfilled; and the entirety of human
intelligence and talent is given a practical, free way to be
actualized. This is done using the mechanisms that have worked
already- the mechanisms of competition and checks-and-balances.
Rather than concentrating power, as did Marx in his errors, it in fact
diffuses it among paths. Which, as they struggle among each other, make
each other create the best outcome; and, as they check-and-balance each
other, not only protect liberty but take it to a far more inclusive
place.
By paths, I mean business; I mean education and academia; I mean
science and technology; I mean policing and diplomacy and legitimate
civil service; I mean thought and service that improves people's
lives and relationships; and I mean artwork and architecture that
becomes the embodied legacy of the civilization, that adorns it,
enriches the lives of its members, gives the civilization a legitimate
sense of accomplishment, and inspires the yet-to-exist. I am of the
belief, once again, that all these are legitimate and rational
pursuits, both involving different forms of intelligence as present in
humanity and through expression of these intelligences providing
fulfillment for sets of human nature that they are most equipped to
fulfill. I am of the belief that all of them are valid, but neither of
them has right to absolute authority or to claim the interest it serves
or mindset it furthers to be definitive. And that it is by all of these
paths existing and struggling among each other that is served both the
outcome (through mechanism of competition) and liberty (through
mechanism of checks-and-balances, here applied by paths upon each
other).
Which means that through competition among paths is accomplished
optimal outcome; that happiness as fulfillment of all forms of nature
and interest is attained; that more inclusive liberty - is served,
with neither approach being definitive and tyrannical; that meaningful
life becomes a reality for more and more people as they find ways to
paths that the forms of intelligence they possess are most equipped
for, and that people have way to contribute the form of intelligence
(or labor, or talent, or any other form of potential) in which they are
most endowed.
In mathematics there is a concept known as game theory. Based on it,
the participants in a system seek to maximize their benefit, and some
solutions benefit some at expense of others and others maximize the
benefit of all. The solution known as Pareto-optimal is the outcome in
which the interest of one can only be increased by harming another's
interest to a greater extent. And the goal of the so-called game -
which of course is completely serious - is to attain that
Pareto-optimal outcome: The outcome that is regarded as the optimal
solution to the game.
Each path - as defined above - fulfils the mindset that is
appropriate to it and a basic interest, self-directed or
other-directed, that is most present in each individual and that is
most significant to him or her. It allows people to actualize in the
process the forms of intelligence and talent in them and gives them a
legitimate way to impart of their fruits. And in so doing they fulfill
the entirety of human nature - by the entirety of human intelligence
finding a way to contribute to the outcome. The result is the optimal
one: One in which people find ways to achieve according to their basic
form of intelligence - and the entirety of human interest is served
through their efforts. Optimal on both demand side and on supply side.
Optimal in the level of human fulfillment accomplished on the demand
side - through what is created by different paths to serve different
levels of human nature and interest, and in the levels and the
completeness of self-interest and human nature that their efforts
serve. And optimal on the supply side - through people involving
themselves in pursuits that serve the level of human nature and
interest that their talents are most competent to address and that
their values are most interested in fulfilling.
I involve in this situation concepts, once again, that are behind the
greatest economic and political accomplishments in history: The concept
of competition and the concept of checks-and-balances. As paths compete
with each other, they are made to create the optimal outcome, while
people find the way to contribute their optimal by finding place in
paths that actualize their form of intelligence. And as they struggle
among each other within a framework of understanding of each other's
roles, they exert checks-and-balance upon each other, making sure that
neither become tyrannical, and that liberty and life in people are
protected and actualized at the highest possible level.
This is not Communism. This is not socialism. This is America's
principles taken to the next level. This is not increase of control but
its reduction. And this is furthermore something that increases rather
than decreasing liberty, happiness and meaningful life, by logic shown
above.
The multiple intelligences among people; multiple forms of human
interest, both self-interest and other-interest; multiple mindsets and
talents and outlooks; mean that life, liberty and happiness are
accomplished by there being a functional way to fulfill these interests
- through people using the forms of intelligence of which they have
in most abundance finding their way to paths that fulfill these
interests. There are multiple forms of human nature, and making the
most of human existence consists of acknowledging and valuing all these
forms of nature and giving them a way to be fulfilled within a legal
framework. As function of these forms of human nature, there are many
legitimate forms of interest, both self-interest and other-interest,
and making the most of human existence consists of acknowledging and
valuing all of these interests and giving them a way to both be
legitimately fulfilled. As function of there being multiple forms of
intelligence, there are many legitimate paths in which people can give
of the form of intelligence that they have in the greatest abundance;
as function of there being multiple values and outlooks, people find
way to pursuits that to them are most meaningful. And through there
being multiple paths, which struggle among each other, is made the
highest outcome created - while, as they struggle among each other,
they destroy tyranny and stranglehold of a single mindset and make
liberty that matters to people on individual basis a reality for more
people.
The success of free-market economics is based on the businesses having
to strive to achieve best product, and people finding ways to
contribute according to their gifts. The success of check-and-balances
system of governance is based on the branches of government checking
each other in order that none should become tyrannical or
unconstitutional. I am taking the logic of both and applying it to the
next level:
That many paths - all fulfilling different forms of interest - are
necessary for the fulfillment of the entire thing that is human nature
and human interest;
That through struggling among each other they are made to produce their
best outcome;
That through there being multiple paths that check each other the
tyranny of a single mindset or interest or attitude or approach to life
is averted;
That as a result of this there is meaningful choice and meaningful life
and liberty;
That people working within these paths use their intelligence and their
efforts to feed the form of happiness that they are most equipped to
impart;
And that people finding a way to involve themselves in these paths,
according to the forms of intelligence and talent and mindset that is
to them most appropriate, is the way to make the entirety of the human
creature bear fruit and, through these efforts, fulfill the entirety of
human nature.
Thus, it becomes possible to achieve happiness as fulfillment of the
entirety of human interest - through people finding the way to the
paths that utilize the intelligence that they have in greatest
abundance and through work in those paths fulfilling the interest they
are most suited to fulfill -
That through competition among these paths brings them to optimize
their product and accomplish the best outcome -
While the logic of checks-and-balances allows multiple mindsets bring
them to balance among each other and check each other and make sure
that none ever become tyrannical, thus achieving the maximum freedom as
experienced by people on individual basis -
And as a result of that the approach of multiple paths arrives at most
complete happiness, most meaningful life and most inclusive liberty for
everyone affected.
Ilya Shambat.
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