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Mainstream economics defines the prime motive for work and living as "self-interest" in acquiring material goods for personal use. This is a wayof dressing up the idea of "greed". In fact, mainstream economics, particularly its conservative version, celebrates greed. Not only is greed considered basic to an economic system, it is idealized as basic to human nature.
Markets, even for labor, are assumed to rest on this version of human nature. Adam Smith, for example, is celebrated in economics literature for his statement that a baker bakes bread not out of generosity, but because of self-interest. An "invisible hand" then dresses up this covert greed as "service". Despite these arguments, empirical analysis makes it clear that people do not work purely from selfish motives. Recently, a techno-economic research paradigm has been proposed which questions whether the expectation of pecuniary rewards or gains is sufficient to explain the work people do.
A human being has a "self" which connects with every one in nature. This ensures that the human being needs love and affection, and encourages therefore a genuine desire to serve others. Efforts by voluntary groups are excellent examples of such service. Thus, if one studies values-in-use, it becomes obvious that they differ from both values-in-exchange and values-in-threat. One is impressed that even in a highly individualized and monetized society, most of the values-in-use are being produced through the human nature of service rather than the so-called human nature of self-interest. This conference is a small but important example of such service-motivated work.
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*Invited but not confirmed, or has not obtained needed travel funds.
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