Throughout the article “Pave the Planet or Wear Shoes” the author discusses the issue of the relationship between the current capitalist economy and the values that it promotes on society. While discussing that relationship the author incorporates certain Buddhist principles that relate to the overall problems that result from the current economic system. The main problem that arises with the current capitalist economy is that it brings a “staggering ecological impact” and an “unequal distribution of new wealth” (88). The values of greed and delusion that this economic system promotes does not fully support the entire global economy, and this is why the author uses the metaphor “Pave the Planet or Wear Shoes” as a solution to the problem. The metaphor is broken up into two parts giving two scenarios or solutions that the global economy will take in order to fix the economic problems of unequal distribution of wealth and the ecological impact.
The first part of the metaphor “Pave the Planet” is a solution that resorts to the globalization movement of using the world’s technological advancements. With this method a capitalist society believes that in order to gain more wealth and success it is necessary for the society to keep using the world’s resources, producing products, and consuming these products. This belief of consistent greed and competition to gain more and more wealth is derived from “the fact that humans are fundamentally self-centered” (79). Although these beliefs and values seem immoral and corrupt, this method has proven quite a success for the global economy in the past. For example, “more goods and services were consumed in the forty years between 1950 and 1990 than by all the previous human generations” (80). ...
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...human nature, “the common good of society is promoted by each person pursuing his own self-interest” and “our human nature is less selfish and more cooperative”. These two views support and defend capitalism, but the Buddhist viewpoint holds no defense or support. With limiting these certain characteristics it allows the person to reach their fulfillment in life, which is Dharma.
Overall the metaphor “Pave the Planet or Wear Shoes” provides a decision that the world needs to make in order for it to limit the economic problems within our society as a whole. Paving the planet has proven to be beneficial for only a small group of the population. The “wearing shoes” method will promote for a more socially just society as well preserving the biosphere for future generations to come.
Works Cited
http://www.jonathantan.org/handouts/buddhism/Loy-Great_Awakening_ch3.pdf
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...tlessly pursuing its own destructive materialism. It is a human fault however, having possessed wealth, like a drug, one must have more and more still until nothing else in the world matters. Money being power and power money, mankind foolishly is seen destroying itself for the betterment of a select few.
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