Chapter 9
The Mindful Society
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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
Mindful society: one in which we
once again take seriously our own
well-being, our relations with
others, and the operation of our
politics
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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”
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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)
Hard path; “I count him braver who
overcomes his desires than him who
conquers his enemies; for the hardest
victory is self.” (Aristotle)
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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
Compassion, mutual help, and
collective decision making good for
those who receive help (poor) and
those who give (rich)
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One of the eight steps on the way to selfawakening
An alertness and quiet contemplation of our
circumstances, putting aside greed and distress
Eight crucial dimensions:
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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
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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
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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
Cognitive
1.
◦ Study sources of happiness
◦ Learn to enrich our lives by the quality of our
relationships and generosity to others
Reflective or meditative
2.
◦ 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
Practice
3.
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Aristotle: “We foster virtue by practicing virtue.”
Virtuous qualities are self-reinforcing
Acts of compassion awaken our desire to be more
compassionate
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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
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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.”
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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
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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”
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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: humaninduced climate change is the “greatest hoax
ever perpetrated on the American people.”
Big Oil and Coal’s power stops politicians
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
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National Intelligence Council’s study of the
US’s challenges in 2025
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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
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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
Ideological
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Mistaken belief that free markets can solve the
economy alone
We need free markets and government operations
Institutional
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Political role of large corporations
“License to operate as a company does not
include a license to pollute our politics.”
Moral
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The nature of modern democracy
Very little public deliberation/involvement
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Readiness to adopt global norms for the good
of all nations
World is deeply interconnected; everything
affects everyone
◦ Wall Street crisis, AIDS/H1N1/Plague
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Political cooperation around the world
Deep distrust and growing competition over
scarce resources hurts mindfulness
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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.”
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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
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“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