The Greater Good

First, in order for society to thrive, each member must contribute and repay some of the natural debt they have derived from the collective sacrifices of others, and fortunately each member has great incentive to do so. Like a common green which is at threat of being over-grazed by ranchers driven by self-preservation, a society is at risk of being overrun and abused by its citizens. The system, comprised of government, educational institutions, a common economy, and culture, allows for individuals to succeed and amass wealth. In turn, these individuals must repay the debt they have accrued through the natural advantages they were afforded by the system (whether such advantages were deliberate or by luck), through contribution to the societal institutions which help others. A society which does not collect on these natural debts could not sustain itself. If the wealthiest members worked only for their own gain, manipulating the system and changing the rules to benefit themselves only, then society would suffer, economically and otherwise. Increased accumulation of wealth at the top leads to wealth inequality, which leads to more severe poverty. Poverty encourages and incentivizes crime, and the phenomenon of “food deserts”, which represent a lack of access to healthy and affordable food in impoverished areas, results in poorer health. In addition, wealth inequality may stifle support for pro-growth policies and dis-incentivize investment, leading to economic stagnation. Taking all of this into consideration, the individual has a keen interest in maintaining fairness and ensuring equitable contribution to society from each member. However, even if the individual recognizes that personal sacrifices are necessary for the betterment of society, such recognition is fruitless without extrinsic incentives. Fortunately, three factors pressure individuals to repay this natural debt. First, a moral obligation to repay gifts and help the disadvantaged exists. Second, positive contributions to society build future benefits for all. Third, individuals can derive personal gains from establishing themselves as a contributing member of society.

The Human Factor

Next, it is impossible to set a figure on just how much individuals owe their society. Tax codes establish portions of income and wealth owed to the government, but the contributions of a citizen encompass more than money. Although ideally, each individual would use every waking moment to contribute to society, humans are imperfect. Even somebody with every intention of prioritizing the “greater good” above all else may eventually collapse in a heap of exhaustion and cynicism. Everybody requires some selfish action to ensure they can mentally and emotionally continue to contribute. As a result, the obligation to contribute to society is limited not to the technical maximum efficiency that an individual can achieve, but the practical maximum efficiency that they can maintain. Therefore, some selfish action, in the form of self-care, is not only necessary, but also beneficial to society. However, it is crucial to not over-correct. One must not defer the repayment of their natural debt to the point of insolvency. One could reason that it would be smarter to take the higher paying, more morally questionable career path because it provides for a more secure future, more wealth, and an increased ability to contribute to society. After all, Bill Gates spent his career pursuing his own ends, and he reaped two primary benefits: He advanced technology, which contributes to society in and of itself, and he generated massive wealth which allowed him to repay his natural debt a hundred-fold through charity and investment. However, it is too easy to lose sight of such noble intentions along the way. In the midst of securing their finances, building for their family’s future, and maximizing their personal satisfaction, individuals may forget the debt they owe. Thus, the parasites of society are born, leveraging their inborn advantages for personal gain, to the detriment of society as a whole.

Resolution

The difficulty lies in finding the balance point; how selfish should an individual be? The balance point is virtually impossible to pinpoint, but the best course of action is to err on the selfish side. The key is to maintain a net-positive lifestyle, slowly chipping away at the natural debt over the course of a lifetime. In any given moment, an individual who contributes to society more than they leech its resources can say with certainty that they are making progress towards total repayment. As a result, they do not risk building their societal debt to the point of insolvency, yet they do not risk burning out. The crucial thing to note, however, is that such a natural debt does exist, and the rational individual should work to maximize the efficiency of their output over their lifetimes. Although each individual must act sub-optimally, taking more input than they need, while producing less output than desirable, one must not forget the necessity of contributing to society. Selfishness is key to sustaining a useful life, but it is only a means, not an end in itself.

First Draft: Society and Debt

-- By DanielYoon - 01 Mar 2018

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