Eudaimonistic Buddhism: Can Metta Transform and Redirect Our Societies and Save Our Environment?

Abstract

This ideology of infinite competition, infinite growth, and infinite consumption that
our culture has been exposed to for over half a century denies one of our most fundamental
characteristics: our ability and desire to cooperate. We are exposed to more temptations
leading to addictions in our society than ever before. Consumerism stimulates us to shop, to
eat, to click on our smartphones day and night. Could it be that social disconnection is the
main drive for our consumerist economy; the main drive that keeps the greed and competition
in Wall Street steaming ahead to destruction? This ideology of infinite competition, infinite
growth, and infinite consumption that our culture has been exposed to for over half a century
denies one of our most fundamental characteristics: our ability and desire to cooperate. When
we put human flourishing instead of unlimited growth at the heart of our economy; when
we put friendly environments at the heart of our politics; in other words when we make it
clear in all our economic and political actions that we will leave no one behind; we can cure
humanity of its addictions, redirect our economy and politics, and save our one and only
planet. This paper looks to explore how Buddhism can contribute to human development,
using a comparative study of Eudaimonistic politics and economics to create and protect an
open benevolent society by eradicating the three addictive poisons that are at the heart of
Buddhist spirituality.