Question

Fully explain what the author means by "Pave the Planet or Wear Shoes."

Subverting Greed Chapter 3.

Answer 1

In the article “Pave the Planet or Wear shoes”, the Author tries discuss the relationship between the present capitalist economic system and the values that it promotes on the society. In order to discuss certain problems emanating from current economic systems, the Author has taken the liberty to use Buddhist Principles.

According to the Author the two major problems of capitalist system is the unequal distribution of wealth and the ecological impact.

In order to provide appropriate solutions to the problems, the Author has divided the metaphor into two parts giving two scenarios or solution.

The first part of the metaphor “Pave the Planet” is a solution that resorts to the globalization movement of using the world’s technological advancements. With this method a capitalist society believes that in order to gain more wealth and success it is necessary for the society to keep using the world’s resources, producing products, and consuming these products. Although these beliefs and values seem immoral and corrupt, this method has proven quite a success for the global economy in the past. The second part of the metaphor “Wear Shoes “moves in a different direction of using Buddhist principles and teachings to construct more global friendly economic system.