Beyond Collectivism and Individualism: Prout

Compared with Capitalism and Communism

To distinguish Prout clearly from communism and capitalism, the significant

differences between these respective systems are reviewed below.

1) Human development. Human development under communism is primarily

concerned with the political and economic spheres of life. Under capitalism there
is a pluralistic expression of personal freedom, with no clear conception of
human potentiality. Prout promotes the integrated development of the full human
personality.

2) Freedom. Human liberty under communism is limited by the primacy of the

interests of the state Under capitalism, a licentious freedom of expression is
permitted, but not a freedom from want and material insecurity. In practice,
capitalist societies will restrict freedom of expression when this expression
challenges the interests of capital. Prout grants full freedom of psychic and
spiritual expression, but recognizes the need for society to place limits on
individual hoarding of wealth. Without this limitation, collective interests will be
violated and universal freedom from want cannot be guaranteed.

3) Privileged interests. Communism privileges the interests of the party and

state. Capitalism gives primacy to property rights, and thus privileges the class
controlling capital Prout gives central importance to promoting the common
welfare while protecting ecological integrity.

4) Progress. Both communism and capitalism regard material development as

the basis of progress. Prout defines progress as the increase in inner fulfillment
of individuals. While this is primarily a spiritual conception of progress, Prout
recognizes that material development is necessary as a foundation for seeking
spiritual fulfillment.

5) Culture. Communism compels culture to be consistent with state ideology.

Under capitalism, mass culture primarily serves commercial interests. As a result,
it is creative but not authentic, energetic but often destructive of higher values.
Prout sees need for culture to emerge out of regional and ethnic experience, and
for these diverse cultures to instill values which give empower the human
psyche.

6) Motivation. Communism emphasizes income equality at the expense of

individual productivity. Capitalism?s system of incentives motivates high
productivity, but the excess of its monetary rewards wastes collective wealth,
encourages greed, and disrupts social unity. Prout strives for balance:
maximizing the efficacy of incentive while minimizing social inequality.
7) Environment. Both communism and capitalism lack a clear value context for
environmental protection. Prout has adopted the value framework of neo-
humanism, which affirms the inherent, existential value of all life. Both
communism and capitalism are unsuited to sustaining environmental integrity
because they emphasize short term gain of profit or productivity and ignore long
term costs of environmental degradation. Prout?s planning system aims to create
ever higher orders of balance, and therefore inherently protects biodiversity and
promotes ecosystem vitality.

8) Planning. Under communism, economic planning is highly centralized and

controlled by the state. Capitalism centralizes the major part of economic
planning in the hands of huge, transnational corporations. Prout decentralizes
planning authority to the level at which people are most aware of economic
problems and potentialities, and therefore best able to plan for their common
welfare.

9) Labor. Workers in both communist and capitalist economies are alienated due
to lack of ownership or control of their workplace. Prout?s enterprise system is
based on worker participation in decision making and cooperative ownership of
assets?conditions which increase motivation and enhance possibilities for
personal fulfillment.

10) Economy. Communism?s command economy is responsive to production

quotas. Capitalism?s free market economy is profit motivated. Prout?s economy
is consumption oriented. It seeks to increase in consumer purchasing power and
availability of consumer goods as the means for maintaining economic vitality
and meeting people?s amenity needs.

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From A Comprehensive Guide To The Study of Prout.