Core Tenet # 1 - Sufficient Spirit

Part One: Most humans are inherently good.

At our core, we are kind, caring, generous, and collaborative. We're not driven by selfishness or greed, though it's easy to believe otherwise. When we start to think others are self-interested or unkind, that belief can start to change us, too. Negativity is contagious—it spreads through our actions and mindset like wildfire.

But here’s the upside: positivity, kindness, and generosity are just as contagious.

When we choose to act generously, we inspire others to do the same. This is a truly transformative notion in our modern society and economy. We have built our worlds on the premise that humans have innate desires, like greed and selfishness, which we must 'harness'.

In Sufficiency Economics, we hold the radical and self-evident belief that humans do not act this way, most of the time.

And by self-evident, we simply ask you to look not to the media or stories. Look to real-life examples. In times of disaster—floods, fires, storms—humans don’t turn away from one another. Time and again, we witness neighbors help neighbors, strangers step in to rescue others, and communities rally around those in need. In these moments, there’s no macho 'survival of the fittest'; there’s only survival through kindness, cooperation, and shared humanity. This is who we are. When faced with a crises, we don’t look away—we come together. And that’s what makes us truly strong.

Sure, some people will let us down from time to time. This will happen regardless of whether we keep our guards up, thinking everyone is out to cheat us, or if we act on the basis people are fundamentally good, trusting and kind. But the overall cost of treating one another as greedy is far higher than acting with kindness, generosity and collaboration.

A greedy mindset will not solve our climate crisis.

In fact, we will need even greater collaboration.

Part Two: ‘Survival of the fittest’ and Darwinism have been debunked. So why do we still run businesses and governments like they are true?

Social science shows that we are better described as ‘survival of the friendliest’. Indeed, technically this analysis of human behaviour aligns with the original meaning of the term ‘survival of the fittest’ before the toxic and simplistic ‘strongest survive/winner takes all’ definition of the term was spread in 20th Century. In other words, natural organisms try to develop the traits and skills that are the 'best fit' for survival, which of course includes the development of social skills, sharing, trust and cooperation.

If you are seeking more extended reading on this, look no further than Professor Rutger Bregman's book 'Humankind'. It may just change your view of humanity!

It is essential that we harness our better angels and organise our communities, businesses and governments around that philosophy.

With so much global warming already locked in, there will be no other way to survive and thrive this century.