The nature of obligation is such that it precedes us, as light precedes the dawn. Before a child knows how to speak, before she can name herself as an “I,” she is already held in a web of duties, spoken or unspoken. She is fed, clothed, touched, and looked upon,…
The Nature of Human Generosity and Selfishness in the Absence of Law
Are human beings, by their essence, generous or selfish? It is a question as old as philosophy itself, debated by theologians, political thinkers, and poets. The answer is often sought in abstraction, in idealized notions of human nature. But when we strip away the formal structures of civilization—when the law…
The Economy of a Human Life
There’s a basic rule in economics: a society can’t consume more than it produces. At least, not indefinitely. Sure, with credit and debt, countries and individuals can stretch beyond their means for a while. But if the global economy functioned like a perfectly balanced ledger, consumption would always have to…
The Future After Capitalism: Techno-Feudalism, Web3, and the Role of Time Co-Ops
As capitalism reaches its late stages, a new economic order is emerging—one that some scholars call “techno-feudalism.” Unlike traditional feudal societies, where landowners controlled the means of production and peasants worked in exchange for protection, today’s feudal lords are tech giants. These corporations own the digital infrastructure that underpins daily…
Why You Should Rethink Your Doubts About Starting (or Joining) a Time Co-Op
At first glance, a time co-op—where people come together in a community for the purpose of supporting and investing in the well-being of one another—might seem unnecessary or even idealistic. After all, most of us are used to handling things on our own, and the idea of building a mutual-support…
The Future of Community: How Time Co-Ops Can Revitalize Society
In today’s world, where economic uncertainty, job displacement, and social fragmentation are on the rise, it’s time we rethink how communities function. The traditional economic model—one based on monetary transactions and individualistic success—has left many behind. But what if there were a way to harness the power of cooperation without…
Cooperative Networks of Peer Support: More than just an interesting idea
The idea of “cooperative networks of peer support”, championed by the organization called “Humans United in Mutual Aid Networks” represents an incredibly powerful, untapped potential for addressing the economic and social challenges that increasingly characterize modern life. And by leveraging platforms like KommunityKoin.com as a foundational framework, these networks can…
The Unconventional Life: A Life Worth Living
Most people go about their days as if on a set course, following patterns laid before them without questioning whether those patterns serve them or merely confine them. The habits of the world become their habits, and the expectations of others dictate the form of their existence. To live in…
“It’s the end of the world as we know it” (and frankly, I’m not feeling so good about it).
It’s the end of the world as we know it. And I don’t feel so good about it at all. Back in the late ‘80s, R.E.M. gave us an anthem for impending doom, a frenetic list of global chaos wrapped up in a catchy tune. They rattled off images of…
The Root of Purpose: Creation and Contribution Over Consumption: One Man’s Experiment
I left my comfortable life in the city, sold my house, quit my job, and went to the woods because I wished to strip away the superfluous, to lay bare the marrow of existence and to ask of life what it had to teach. In those quiet hours by the…