The Human Condition is Contributist
Taking Less, Giving More — Part II
This is the second entry in a multi-part manifesto by the newest author to take on the Pablo Parabola name.
Taking Less, Giving More
Combating Climate Change Through Contributism
Part II
The Human Condition is Contributist
Climate change is a catalyst for contributism because it is the direct result of capitalism taking time from the many and showering that abundance upon the few. This greed can only be resolved through a return to contributist giving. Yes, contributism is not new, and in fact it is woven into the very foundation of human society. Contributism is what enabled our ancestors to brave famine, survive drought, withstand floods, and tame wildfires. Though humanity is complicit in the climate catastrophes we are expecting to face in the 21st, humanity will endure and overcome, as it always has, through collective social action.
It was only a few generations ago that the USA itself, the modern epitome of excess and overconsumption, was rationing essential foodstuffs to further the effort in World War II. [1] This is not to say there was no corruption or that there were no illicit markets for extra food, but rationing did sway the populace, and it was seen as right and honorable to make do with less. [2] It is also important to highlight that remaining lean in this time was a critical factor in providing the broader society the resources necessary for the Allied forces to win the war. This is a crucial part of the larger strategy because self-control and abstinence alone is not enough. This self-sacrifice must be engaged efficiently and effectively.
Viewing climate change through the lens of past world wars is not a unique or original position. [3] As with any war, whether it is waged with global warming gasses or intercontinental ballistic missiles, humans are at the helm. Humanity chooses to continually consume fossil fuels, and in so doing, humanity has agency and responsibility in choosing the consequence of that consumption. It is all but assured that Earth will cross the 1.5 C temperature threshold target laid out by the Paris Agreement. [4] Beyond that it is unhelpful to speculate where climate change might take the planet, because, frankly, it is uncertain what might happen once we cross that 1.5 C threshold [5]. While the data regarding the climate future is incomplete, we can instead turn to the past for wisdom.
Human history emphasizes the inherent generosity within all humanity, giving credence to contributism as the most effective and natural solution for mounting existential dread. [6] While such a sweeping statement cannot possibly capture the diversity within the human condition, both at the community and individual level, the claim is that there is indeed a majority opinion that drives humanity, and that opinion is altruistic and giving. From there, society is built, thrives, and prospers. The failure of modern capitalism is that it has pitted the human desire for status against altruism. Throughout human history, we see that the tension between the wealthy few and the impoverished many is always tempered through giving, and failure to do so risks revolutionary action. America’s own billionaires, past and present, have consistently papered over their transgressions with philanthropy, partly to further their personal agendas, but also to preserve their legacy and offset the brutal reality of their wealth.
At the heart of this, however, we must recognize that intrinsically, capitalism is not a moral framework. Capitalism is solely motivated by the ability to provide more value for less, and leaves humanity to decide how to value both the input and output. Adopting a capitalist perspective to direct investment is a prudent and rewarding framework. Adopting a capitalist perspective to direct the developmental arc of society has only served to tear at the social fabric within our families, our communities, our nation. When every relationship exists to be leveraged for maximal gain, generosity is not a virtue, but the worst possible transgression. Yet this perspective runs counter to the very core of the human condition. To forgive a debt is kind, to labor for love is sublime.
Humanity holds all the cards, and yet is paralyzed by the choice ahead. To continue with the status quo risks horrors unknowable, yet that abstraction means eating less meat, flying fewer miles, and keeping the house less temperate are real discomforts that outweigh some imagined future state. By giving a little now and each day following, we can slowly build towards making real mitigation in the coming decades.
Read next: Part 3: A Contributist Climate Perspective