Maslow’s psychology of human potential offers a sensible template for new economic principles and practice. Instead of tracking and enabling hoarding of wealth for a few, we begin with tracking and developing mind, body, and spiritual potential for everyone to flourish. Top-down rule delivered extreme inequality, a bottom-up version promises the latter.
Human growth and development begin with deficiency needs: physical health and safety; connection in belonging, love, and esteem. That’s followed by growth needs: social nurturing to provide ample opportunity for cognitive or brain development; aesthetic needs or creativity for love of beauty and finally, self-actualization to becoming what one is capable of being.
Self-actualization refers to individuals, whereas self-transcendence enters into consciousness of something greater to shift beyond self toward the other. Self-transcendence is not externally driven by money or reward but is internally motivated toward activity which is its own reward.
Transformational economics replaces the transactional system that celebrates “me” with one that prioritizes “we” the people. Social organization would be tailored for local community agency and support. People, over profit for the few, would deliver a new economics for a safe and just society and maintain ecological balance as foundational.
This larger context is a spiritual connection for meaning with fellow beings thriving in a natural world of purpose. Social, economic, and ecological justice are closely intertwined with both human and natural diversity, economic democracy, inclusion where no one is left behind, in a restorative, regenerative and distributive economy.
“All flourishing is mutual.” The political economy would be embedded in a sociocultural system which is in turn embedded in an ecological system where all parts act in concordance with the purposeful whole. Reckless corporate and oligarchic rule would be replaced with workplace democracy and ecological stewardship whereby reciprocity and gratitude lead to “life creating conditions conducive for life.”
Harold Honkola
Stillwater