Human flourishing is all that matters
The only valid framework for deciding what's is a good idea, is whether it promotes human flourishing. All else is greed or self destruction.
Human flourishing is marked by
People having their basic physical needs met (food, water, shelter, healthcare)
People having a robust web of relationships (friends, family, spouse, children)
People feeling a sense of purpose to their life
People having meaningful work that supports their life's purpose
This is what could be called living a "full life"
A tree will be known by its fruit
A good idea is defined by whether it leads to human flourishing. It's a bad idea if it leads less flourishing. There is no other characteristic about an idea, no other rubric for whether it is "good" than if it leads to more human flourishing.
Therefore any idea, policy, or action that leads to less human flourishing would be a mistake at best, evil at worst.
E.g. There is ample evidence that a home with two loving parents is much better for the flourishing of a child than other situations. Policies or actions that would leads to broken homes is detracting from human flourishing.
A society where humans flourish
Therefore I submit that the definition of a good society is one where all humans in that society flourish. In turn, if you wish to measure how "good" a society is, you should measure how much its citizens flourish, and whether the flourishing can be maintained.
Every other measure is a distraction or merely supporting evidence of a prerequisite.
Disagreements are natural
Most reasonable people can agree human flourishing is the goal. But get 5 economists in a room and you'll get 7 opinions on the best economic policies to promote human flourishing.
We are only human, we do not know the future. Especially the results of situations we've never experienced or tried.
It's natural to disagree about plans, tactics, or policies. Health debate will produce better plans. But a healthy debates must be focused on what's most likely to lead to human flourishing. Any other focus in the debate is about as useful as a condom in in convent.
And when there's ample evidence a system does not work, it should be dismissed with prejudice as contrary to the interests of human flourishing.
Unsurprising things that promote human flourishing
These are things that a world of abundance should be focused on ensuring people have access to.
- Enough resources to provide for oneself and one's family
- A safe home
- Meaningful work
- Healthy lifestyle
- Close friends
- Supportive community
- Having children
- Having autonomy and choice about how to spend your time and resources
- Access to green spaces and nature
- Belonging or being part of something greater than themselves
Against such things, there should be no law.
Enemies of flourishing
- Lack of safety
- Injustice
- Mental illness
- Poverty
- Disease
- Isolation
- Lack of autonomy
- Purposelessness
Against fixing such things there should be no law. These enemies of flourishing must be rooted out, healed, and/or fixed for the good of all people.
(Maybe) surprising things that are required for human to flourish
A thriving economy
The word "economy" is loaded with so much baggage, but it is just the word to describe the way we provide for each other. We all have a part to play to add in providing the goods and services available to each other (food, transport, clothes, coaching...everything).
Without a thriving economy there is no way to sustainably provide abundance for our families nor our community. All other methods are temporary abundance borrowing against the future (unsustainable resource extraction), or they are systems that can and will be disrupted and rob people of the conditions of flourishing (UBI/UHI).
A thriving economy should be fostered, for the good of all people.
A free society
It's impossible for all humans to flourish in a totalitarian society. There's minimal autonomy, there's less opportunity to grow and change and attain mastery.
An effective society that utilizes (instead of fighting) human nature does not need a centralized will imposed on people to maintain human flourishing.
Totalitarian societies may achieve relative abundance to some other societies, but a maximally flourishing society will not be marked by a heavy hand.
A free society should be fostered, for the good of all people.
A strong social fabric
A maximally flourishing society will be high-trust. People will be able to trust not just their neighbor, but when they go to a completely new place they will have deep kinship with the people they meet there.
A strong social fabric is a necessary foundation for people to feel safe. That allows large and robust communities to be fostered, and a strong social fabric makes people feel part of something bigger than themselves.
A strong social fabric should be fostered, for the good of all people.
Challenge and change
Without challenge, we don't grow. This is true of muscles. This is true of mice (mouse heaven experiment). Why would people expect it's any different for humans?
Difficulty pushes people to ever greater mastery. Difficulty promotes character, and character is a key ingredient to a strong social fabric. Challenge promotes change, creating new situations and opportunities for people to engage in.
There is also something to be relished in challenge, and a life without challenge will eventually become dull. A dull life robs people of motivation and meaning. If all has been accomplished then why are we here? This is an enemy of flourishing.
Challenge should be fostered in a society, even if it has to be artificial (like going to the gym). For the good of all people.
Diversity
A diversity of people creates a diversity of wants/needs. Some people love the desert, some want to live in a high rise. Flourishing isn’t all one thing. Just as diversity isn't all one thing (race or gender or cultural background).
Diversity is key to promoting a dynamic system forcing constant change.
Constant change presents new challenges and opportunities, bringing more fulfillment and meaning to life.
Diversity should be fostered, for the good of all people.
Local first
The conditions for maximal flourishing will not be globally available at first. The conditions for flourishing necessarily start with a small group, or pockets of communities.
In order to expand the reach of maximal flourishing people, companies, and systems will need to be invited into that pocket so long as they expand the capabilities of that community to promote human flourishing. If those who enter the pocket of abundance and flourishing take more than they give, then the system will eventually fail.
Expanding maximal human flourishing globally will require accepting that it won't be evenly distributed, especially not geographically. it must be built up locally and expanded to the fullest extent it can handle and no further.
In time maximal flourishing will be accessible to all people.
Localities of abundance should be fostered, for the eventual good of all people.
A framework for the future
We have the opportunity to build sustainable, mind-blowing, abundance. This decade and in the decades to come.
There will be many unfamiliar challenges. There will be many voices screaming about what to do. There will be hard decisions to make.
It is your job to, in thoughtful tranquility, determine what will bring about maximal human flourishing. Then, with an unstoppable force of will, with all the cunning and skill you have, bring that into being. It is the only goal that matters.