Buddhism and Universal Basic Income: A Comparative Perspective on Human Nature

Abstract

          This article examines the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) through the perspective of Buddhism by analyzing both its compatibility and tensions with the Buddhist view of human nature. UBI has been supported by diverse ideological traditions, including left-wing liberalism, which emphasizes freedom and justice, as well as right-wing economic thought represented by Milton Friedman’s proposal of a negative income tax to reduce state intervention. These perspectives demonstrate the broad ideological foundations of UBI. In contrast, Buddhism rejects the assumption that human beings are inherently good or evil, and instead explains human behavior in terms of the three defilements—greed, hatred, and delusion—as described in the Anguttara Nikaya, which indicates that human beings possess both positive and negative potentials depending on mental cultivation. This differs from UBI’s primary emphasis on material security, although both share the common objective of alleviating human suffering. The Cakkavatti Sutta, for example, explains how poverty can lead to social decline, which corresponds with the social objectives of UBI. However, Buddhism maintains that external material support alone cannot resolve the internal causes of suffering, particularly those rooted in greed and attachment. This article therefore argues that aligning UBI with Buddhist principles requires developing a framework that balances material support with mental cultivation in order to reduce the risks of attachment and to promote sustainable human well-being. Such an integrated approach responds to Buddhist concerns regarding the role of the defilements while preserving the central objective of UBI in addressing economic suffering.