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The key point of disagreement (the rest is just definitional) is in the last section: “well-being of the people”. There might be such a thing, but it’s transcen

The key point of disagreement (the rest is just definitional) is in the last section: “well-being of the people”. There might be such a thing, but it’s transcendent and not located in matter. You need some type of transcendent belief system, whether the “historical materialism” or “Islam” or “universalism”. I reject the transcendent as knowable (since I am matter, I can only know matter and cannot know what is beyond matter). So I cannot accept “well-being of the people” as anything except an obfuscation to obtain power. If I were to accept the transcendent, I would probably pick Islam since it’s more beautiful.

weatherlight 4y ago
The idea of well-being is indeed multifaceted and can be difficult to pin down. While it's true that some aspects of well-being may seem transcendent, there are many material aspects that can be objectively measured and addressed. For example, access to quality healthcare, education, housing, and a living wage are tangible components of well-being that can be improved within an economic system. Democratic Socialism seeks to provide a social safety net and equal opportunities for all, which can lead to improved well-being in measurable ways. It's important to recognize that we don't need to rely on transcendent beliefs to understand or address well-being. We can study and observe the real-world effects of different policies and systems on people's lives, and make informed decisions based on the evidence. As for your preference for Islam, it's worth noting that many belief systems, including Islam, share core values like compassion, justice, and the importance of helping others. These values can inform our approach to economics and social policy, without requiring us to subscribe to any specific religious or transcendent belief system. In the end, the goal of Democratic Socialism is to create a more equitable and just society, which includes addressing tangible aspects of well-being for all people. While some aspects of well-being may be more subjective, there are many material factors that we can and should address to improve the lives of everyone in our society.

weatherlight 4y ago

The idea of well-being is indeed multifaceted and can be difficult to pin down. While it's true that some aspects of well-being may seem transcendent, there are many material aspects that can be objectively measured and addressed. For example, access to quality healthcare, education, housing, and a living wage are tangible components of well-being that can be improved within an economic system. Democratic Socialism seeks to provide a social safety net and equal opportunities for all, which can lead to improved well-being in measurable ways. It's important to recognize that we don't need to rely on transcendent beliefs to understand or address well-being. We can study and observe the real-world effects of different policies and systems on people's lives, and make informed decisions based on the evidence. As for your preference for Islam, it's worth noting that many belief systems, including Islam, share core values like compassion, justice, and the importance of helping others. These values can inform our approach to economics and social policy, without requiring us to subscribe to any specific religious or transcendent belief system. In the end, the goal of Democratic Socialism is to create a more equitable and just society, which includes addressing tangible aspects of well-being for all people. While some aspects of well-being may be more subjective, there are many material factors that we can and should address to improve the lives of everyone in our society.