By Jamie York
I often think about what a future humanist world might look like. How would people treat each other? How would the government and the economy function? And what about individual freedom and creativity, work, health care, education, morality, and the environment? Would the drive for profit still be the motivating factor in society, or would working for the betterment of society be motivation enough?
The ultimate goal of a humanist economy is the creation of a system of production and distribution based upon what people need and want. Food production, manufacturing, transportation, mining, utilities, health care, education, and the media will no longer be owned by individual owners or corporate shareholders as they are under the capitalist economic system; instead, they will be publicly owned and operated for the benefit of society. Money, as we have come to know and depend on it, will one day become obsolete.
Racism, sexism, and all forms of discrimination, will no longer exist in this future world because the economic forces that encourage and perpetuate them will no longer exist. As people no longer have to worry about paying the rent and obtaining food, they will begin, over time, to accept each other equally as human beings, as comrades, as fellow citizens of Earth. This does not mean that all human conflict will be eliminated, but conflict-resolution skills will be taught in and encouraged by the schools. Violence could become a relic of humankind's uncivilized past.
Politics, as we now know it, will no longer exist. There will be no need for separate political parties representing class interests because class differences will have been eliminated. While there may be a limited representative government to handle routine day-to-day matters, the real power of participatory democracy will be at the neighborhood level. Decisions will be made from the bottom up by direct vote.
Human freedom and creativity will be realized in a humanist world. Artistic, creative expression will be encouraged at an early age, not snuffed out as it is today. Because the pressure, anxiety, and fear of today will no longer exist, the human mind will be free to develop to its highest potential.
Nothing comes easy. Because society will own the means of production, the members of society will have to work to meet production expectations. On the other hand, there will be full employment, so the workweek will be shorter -- say 25 or 30 hours for nine months each year. This will allow more time for creative endeavors, running a small business, vacations, and so on. There will be greater flexibility regarding when and where one works, but the reward for work will not be a paycheck; it will be the satisfaction of having contributed to society, of having done one's part to meet the production goals of society.
Health and dental care will available free to everyone. The focus of health care will be preventative medicine, so wellness will be a subject taught by the schools. Because the focus of health care will be on the wellness of the individual -- the whole person -- a holistic approach will be practiced. What we now think of as conventional and alternative medicine will be incorporated into a single philosophy.
Like health care, education will be free through the college level. High school graduation will be expected of all students and those who want to attend college may do so at any time. The schools will emphasize core studies (English, math, science, social studies and history) and will supplement this with course work in wellness, ethics, conflict resolution, and the arts and humanities. The schools will be responsible to help students realize their full potential as creative, thinking human beings.
The development of an ethical society will coincide with the creation of a humanist society. While there may be some codes regarding ethical behavior, there will be no need for a criminal justice system. The criminal justice system of today is the product of a class society and is used by the ruling class as a way to control the working class. In a humanist, classless society, there will be no need for one class to control another; consequently, there will be no need for judges, lawyers, police, prisons, jails, and so forth.
Those who wish to practice a religion and celebrate religious holidays will be free to do so, but there will be no state slogans such as "In God We Trust." Children will learn about religious practices in school, but they will also learn that humanists consider religion a supernatural, mythological pursuit. Humanists believe that happiness in our individual lives should be the highest goal, but those who continue to believe that fulfillment comes in an afterlife will be free to hold and practice that belief.
Respect for the beauty of the natural world is a central part of the humanist philosophy, so state-of-the-art pollution controls will be used wherever they are needed. Automobiles will use a non-polluting, renewable energy source. Public transportation systems will be clean, efficient, and free, so it is likely there will be far fewer cars owned by individuals. Perhaps there will even be free public motor pools for those who need a car for a day, a weekend, or for a vacation.
Solar and wind energy, as well as other renewable sources, will be used wherever they are practical and nuclear power plants will be dismantled because the long-term risks outweigh the short-term benefits.
Scientific study of the Earth's natural processes such as climate, volcanoes and earthquakes, as well as space exploration, will be important fields of study, as will any endeavor that seeks to expand human knowledge. When there are ethical concerns about an endeavor, such as cloning and genetic engineering, society at large will discuss them, evaluate the pros and cons, and decide whether or not to pursue them.
The transition to this future world will not be an easy one. At first, the industrialized countries will be asked to assist the developing countries by providing food, healing the sick, and building schools, hospitals and housing. There will be many years of sacrifice, of doing without some goods and services, but this sacrifice will benefit humankind in the long run. Today, our capitalist economic system does not care about planning for the future; it cares only about making more and more profit for owners and shareholders; it cares only about expanding into new markets and beating the competition; it cares only about today. The incentive in the future will not be profit, but the betterment of humankind. There will always be a need for new and better ways of doing things, for new and better products, and the scientists and inventors of the future will take great pride in their accomplishments.
Before we can take our first baby-steps toward a humanist society, however, we need to change the way we think. We must learn to make decisions and sacrifices today knowing that we will not be around to reap the benefits. This will be a difficult transition for those of us living in the industrialized countries who are used to instant gratification, so we must therefore keep our eyes on the prize and never forget that we are working for the betterment of society.