Forum Post: psychological theory and how it corresponds to a viable solution

Many philosophers and psycho-analysts alike would agree that human beings act entirely out of self interest and that this underlying influence of human behavior cannot be helped. If this is indeed true (and it has proven itself so for many, many years) then we MUST come to understand how this can fit into a vital and practical solution if we are to take ourselves seriously.

To simplify this examination, lets set aside all other concerns (political or otherwise) for now and speak purely of human psychology and of a certain physical principle called "The Law of Increasing Returns". To begin, This law states that as more individuals come together towards a common definite end, the payout reached will increase exponentially. This is why we form political parties, etc as we come to work towards shared ideals we grow our strength not in multiples by in exponents. Mathematically this kind of phenomenon is called a factorial. It is also why technology progresses at an exponential rate (why computers get faster in shorter and shorter periods of time.)

If you are able to grasp an understanding of the above principle, then you must understand where this is going. That is is every mans self interest to be as agreeable as possible with the largest amount of people possible so that the returns that the individual will see in the end will be far greater than he could ever hope to achieve if he were to set out on his own. To form a more perfect society an infrastructure MUST be designed FROM SCRATCH that will allow human beings to agree as often as possible, thus creating the greatest exponential return towards what all men desire. Now the issue of utopianism must obviously be addressed.

A Utopia is not possible, because progression can always logically go farther, there is no wall (at least foreseeably) where intellect suddenly stops and technology can go no further. Technology never stops, it constantly gets better, improves upon itself. Therefore the argument that working towards a Utopian society is both logically sound and entirely irrelevant to the issue. We do not need a Utopia, we need a better, more functional system. The transition will likely be uncomfortable for many that have grown accustomed to their wars, and famines, and social profiteering, and social manipulation.

But what we need is to isolate the biggest concerns to humanity starting with the most basic, possibly in reference to Maslow's hierarchy, or possible off a new revised hierarchy of human need and find a solution USING THE BEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE that will benefit most if not all of the individuals in that society toward the attainment of those needs.

Such a place could not only be democratic, but could become a streamlined epicenter of democracy such as the world has never seen. Where thanks to the marriage of the understanding that we all inevitably serve ourselves, and that we all serve ourselves best by serving others with the best technological advancements humanity has ever surmised, we can create an intelligent infrastructure where corruption and greed are not only unlikely, they are almost entirely impossible.

What we need is a shift in human consciousness in realizing that war is not a self serving act, but a self defeating act as defined by the "law of increasing returns".