On Currency value
Who defines economic value?
The Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a good picture from the standpoint of the egocentric human being, even in its top most layer self actualisation is still according to ones self relation rather than humanity or universality as a whole.
The model does show our ego based needs though and as such can be used to build a more advanced model which includes universality.
- Biological and Physiological needs - air, food, drink, shelter, warmth, reproduction, sleep, etc.
- Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, limits, stability, etc.
- Belongingness and Love needs - work group, family, affection, relationships, etc.
- Esteem needs - self-esteem, achievement, mastery, independence, status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility, etc.
- Self-Actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences, obtaining knowledge and understanding, etc.
:Here then I could add, self sacrifice for the sake of the future of humanity, which transcend realizing personal potential and self-fulfillment, that which makes growth beyond ones own expected life time and without any personal benefits.
- Part of universal growth - Minion of God, for the sake of others and the whole. Helping others to achieve self actualization. Benevolence etc.
All of these points works interdependently, however the points doesn't necessarily come in order even if the lower seem more immediate.
Another aspect when exploring what positive economic value is, is which part of human nature do we actually want to support. Because whatever we do want to support that should be counted as being of value meanwhile the parts that have a negative total influence should be counted as a negative economic value.
Examples could be, does building this factory help humanity as a whole, does this drug laboratory?
It does not only rely on product but as well on the general influence in terms of pollution and social growth, is these factors negative or positive.
At the moment whatever can be sold at a profit to the producer is considered a positive value, whereas programs that tries to limit the negative aspects are by economists and financiers considered negative value.
From a matter of human nature, describing the positive and negative value in principled terms comes down to breaking down what human nature is and whether these aspects have a value that in the end could be represented in economic terms.
The monk Evagrius Ponticus gave way for the idea of the 7 capitol vices, the 7 carnal vices or 7 deadly sins.
This list we can use to develop a more accurate picture of the inner workings of man and following when something has a positive or negative universal economic value.
The nature of man
Approaching the different aspects of good and evil in regards to human nature, is something most individuals to some extend do. for it seems as if there is both a good and an evil side to human nature.
Even within the most noble of characters, corruption brews and even within the most wicked of characters, some small drop of good still remains.
The character of man is in a constant fight with itself between the moral and the wicked side. So let us exactly define these different aspects that we may derive the understanding of what in part is the inner works of true justice in character as to enter relations between human beings as well as being universal beings in fairness.
Any human evil character trait can accurately be described using the 7 capital vices and their opposites. Thus splitting a human being into extroverted evils and introverted evils. The extroverted evils being what we know as the capitol vices, affecting other people than one self, meanwhile the withdrawn evils could be referred to as self-negligence and would only matter for the self of a person. Both introverted and extroverted evil can be referred to as corruption, even though the introverted evils would only be corruption the moment they are done to the extent of spreading the evil into society.
Since the 7 capitol vices describe any human evil possible, directly or indirectly. Knowing these would be an important step towards understanding the nature of man. So let us shortly formulate them.
They are as follows: Pride, Greed, Lust, Jealousy, Wrath, Gluttony, Sloth. Any other vice are a mixture of these 7. let us further elaborate them to clarify their meaning.
- Pride: vanity, vainglory and general disrespect. Feeling excessively superior to others. lack of acknowledging ones own limits. The greatest disturber of the souls peace. Insolent contempt leading to forceful humiliation of others. Dante's definition of pride was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbour". It was pride that made the devil the devil, it is anti god. Pride is the first vice, laying foundation for every other vice. Every other vice starts with a general universal disrespect for others.
Benjamin Franklin said "In reality there is, perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history. For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility. - Greed: Excessive desire to have just for the sake of having. Selfish obtainment of wealth, pursuit of material possessions. Includes theft, robbery and exploitation.
- Lust: is an intense and excessive desire for sexual interaction, often leading to immoral sexual acts.
- Jealousy: Is a relation to another being, resenting the ownership of others, their success, relations, objects or traits.
Envy, is a mixture of greed and jealousy, it is an excessive desire to both resent the ownership of others and wanting to have it. - Wrath: Anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, or mean.
- Gluttony: is the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste.
- Sloth: physical, mental or spiritual laziness. Rejects grace and God. omitting responsibilities
It seems from this we still lack to describe some of the evils that humans can do, but those would be covered using the exact counterparts to the 7 vices above, for when we lack any of these it will also be destructive to ourselves. As such the 7 vices above can be called the extreme vices meanwhile the counterparts are the negligent vices.
The negligent vices can accurately be described as following;
1.b counter to pride comes timidity with lack of self confidence in any way or form.
2.b counter to greed comes self-negligence. Having nothing and keeping nothing.
3.b counter to lust comes celibacy. Which would yield no kids and thus no future.
4.b counter to jealousy comes apathy. Not caring about comparisons at all.
5.b counter to wrath comes utter tolerance. Accepting anything good or evil.
6.b counter to gluttony comes starvation.
7.b counter to sloth comes workaholism.
We must have a balance of the vices to obtain at least a neutral standpoint of humanity. Each to its own nature, the balance between the internal and the external vice, for only then would it neither be a lack nor excess. The golden middle road of human nature.
True human virtue doesn’t come from limitation but from a doing what is best in a moral sense.
The 7 virtues can be described as following
1.c between pride and timidity comes confidence and humility. Insights into ones own abilities and trusting in those abilities but in a way that is not excessive.
2.c between greed and self negligence comes generosity. The ability to give away your own surplus for the benefit of others.
3.c between lust and celibacy comes reproductive necessity.
4.c between jealousy and apathy comes temperance.
5.c between wrath and passive acceptance comes courageous tolerance. Acting out justified anger but only to the extend it is necessary meanwhile accepting things that does not need to be met with anger.
6.c between gluttony and starvation comes healthy eating
7.c between sloth and workaholism comes diligence.
Chastity the balance of lust. Discretion of sexual conduct according to one's state in life; the practice of courtly love.
Temperance: Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings, practicing self-control, abstinence, moderation and deferred gratification. Self regulation.
Charity: Generosity, charity, self-sacrifice, the term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving. In Christian theology, charityor love (agape)is the greatest of the three theological virtues.
Agape: The balance of wrath, Universal humane love. Love of all. Universal Empathy.
Diligence: A Zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work; decisive work ethic, steadfastness in belief, fortitude, and the capability of not giving up.
Patience: Forbearance that comes from moderation; enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.
Building a sense of peaceful stability and harmony rather than conflict, hostility, and antagonism; resolving issues and arguments respectfully.
Kindness: Unselfish love and voluntary kindness without bias or spite.
Humility: The courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved. Reverence for those who have wisdom and those who selflessly teach in love. The giving of Respect.
A clear path
Having a clear unobscured choice between good and evil instead of not being able to differentiate is important. Else when wanting to do good one actually do evil and when wanting to do evil one actually do good, this creates a mishmash of intentions.
In society playing with life morally should be endorsed, meanwhile playing with life immorally should be disdained.
Having the free choice to ruin your own life by sinking into deeper immorality must be free but with the limitation that the choice never infringes on other human beings.
-So a Healthy economic system would promote currency value represented in a way that also promotes morality in its creative balance.
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