‘Sorry… what? A ‘moneyless society’?’

 

You heard right.

 

Among many other unprecedented proposals for a more just society, a core aspect of genuine survival-based utilitarianism is that the economy would operate moneylessly. Explaining the replacement system (ethical credit), and where/how it would be integrated into a broader plan to save the world goes well beyond this website (you can read about it in our feature-length book)- but in short, people’s social standings and access to resources would be more merit-based than they are now, but with an essential additional layer of having to prove an actual desire/propensity to make a positive difference (‘moral capacity’); or at least not cause unnecessary suffering (‘moral incapacity’).

 

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Why replace money?

 

Here’s an excerpt from my book… 

 

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I have a question for you.

 

What actually is that piece of paper, that number on an ATM? What does it represent? Surprisingly difficult one to articulate, isn’t it.

 

“A belief system”. Sounds daunting… let’s try and be more specific than that. “A medium of exchange”. Cool; why do we need that? “It catalyses economic activity.” True- where are we going with this, though? What’s the end-goal, other than exchanging things, and- quite possibly- making someone else rich? Why can it be the difference between life and death? What’s the reasoning system- the ‘axiom’- from which these units of ‘value’ are apportioned?

 

I suppose it’s this:

 

“The most valuable action is that which everyone demands the most,

or otherwise maximises my money.”

 

Bit different to utilitarianism, right…

 

You see, the value of money hinges on a belief-based system; overlaid on (and very much conflicting with) systems of ethics, and laws.; overlaid on (and very much conflicting with) systems of ethics, and laws. Those bits of green paper, those digital numbers flashing on the ATM, they’re units in an abstract system of evaluating actions based not on societal need, but want.

 

Money prevails mostly because no one has thought of a comprehensive alternative; much less how to implement it. It does, in fairness, serve some important functions- it promotes social order on a large scale, encourages people to earn things in life, and ensures at least some democracy to fresh wealth accumulation. Where we run into serious problems with it however, can be summarised as follows…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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