Understanding society via self-discovery
Asad Zaman
This item is extracted from Asad Zaman’s longer article with the same title [1]
If “to know yourself is the beginning of wisdom,” then modern economics might well be the pinnacle of folly. Its foundational assumption – that human beings behave like homo economicus, selfishly pursuing wealth and pleasure – has been repeatedly disproven by empirical evidence. Worse, it would be unwise for real people to act in this way. The self-centred pursuit of material goods inevitably erodes social relationships, which are consistently shown to be the greatest source of lifelong happiness and fulfillment.
What explains the stubborn persistence of this flawed worldview? The problem lies in methodology. In its quest for scientific legitimacy, modern economics focuses exclusively on external, measurable behaviour, dismissing the insights of lived experience. Self-knowledge is our best tool for understanding both human behaviour and the societies we inhabit.
Economic axioms that treat people as pleasure-seeking robots are routinely rejected by experimental psychology. Life experiences tend to create deeper insights. Consider this: in some cultures, extravagant displays of wealth, such as luxury cars and lavish weddings, are markers of social status. In others, humility and generosity, like giving to charity or supporting one’s community, are the paths to respect and recognition. This contrast highlights a near-universal principle of human behaviour: people are not driven solely by wealth or pleasure but by the pursuit of social status within the norms of their society.
Historically social exclusion has often meant death, and makes the pursuit of social status a rational and deeply ingrained behaviour. Thus, our societies shape the way we think, act, and perceive the world. To break free from these ingrained patterns, we must challenge the narratives that we have internalized. But how can we overcome the filters imposed by living within and being shaped by a specific society?
Beyond the Boundaries of Received Knowledge
Liberating ourselves from the biases of our social conditioning is no small task. The collective knowledge of humanity, built over millennia, is vast but imperfect. Most of what we know is received wisdom, accepted without question. Yet this inheritance often contains systemic errors. When societies embrace flawed beliefs – like the flat-earth theory, racism, or the modern dogma of economic rationality -escaping their influence becomes extremely challenging.
Two strategies are particularly effective in breaking free from these constraints:
(i) Study the History of Ideas: Tracing how ideas emerge and evolve reveals their biases and limitations. For example, modern economic theories were shaped by historical contexts and power dynamics, serving specific agendas rather than universal truths.
(ii) Engage with Alternative World-views: Exploring perspectives from other cultures and histories offers a mirror to reflect our own biases. Seeing ourselves through others’ eyes can expose hidden assumptions and deepen our understanding of society’s values and structures. Eurocentric biases become very clear when we hear the story from the perspective of the colonized.
Modern Economics: A Celebration of Wealth and Power
Far from fostering self-awareness, modern economics actively stifles it. By insisting on universal laws of behaviour, it disregards the diversity of human motivations and the interplay between individuals and their societies. This approach dismisses the narratives, beliefs and identities that profoundly shape human actions.
The dominant model of homo economicus – a rational, self-interested pleasure-seeker – offers not merely a poor approximation of real behaviour but a dangerous distortion. It reduces people to mechanical calculators of cost and benefit, ignoring the emotions, relationships, and cultural contexts that define human life. This mechanistic view blinds economics to the truth that societies are built on shared stories, values, and ideals – not mere transact-ions.
Moreover, modern economics relies heavily on material determinism the notion that material conditions alone drive history. Yet history shows otherwise. From the endurance of indigenous cultures to the transformative power of revolutionary ideas, human agency and belief systems have consistently reshaped societies in ways economic models cannot capture. My forthcoming textbook will explore how historical contexts and power dynamics has shaped modern economics, revealing its roots and limitations.
Self-Knowledge: The First Step to the Study of Society. To study society meaningfully, we must first study ourselves. Our beliefs, behaviours and aspirations are shaped by the collective narratives of our communities. Recognizing this interdependence is the foundation of self-awareness.
But self-awareness alone is insufficient. To fully understand society, we must also critically examine the dominant theories and narratives that shape our understanding.
Economic Crises and False Narratives: During the 2007 Global Financial Crisis, dominant narratives blamed systemic financial collapse, justifying bank bailouts, while alternative views pointed to excessive private debt and advocated aiding borrowers. The prevailing narrative served the interests of the powerful, not the public, revealing how economic theory often reflects power rather than truth.
The Cost of Ignoring Politics and Power: Economics claims to be a science but systematically ignores the role of politics and power. For example, acknowledging the economic impact of wars would undermine the centrality of scarcity in economic theory. Redirecting even a fraction of global defence budgets could eradicate poverty, fund universal education, and ensure basic healthcare. The real economic problem isn’t scarcity but the deliberate mis-allocation of resources, shaped by political agendas and dominant social narratives.
By confronting these narratives and recognizing their biases, we can begin to see society more clearly and work toward solutions rooted in justice and human welfare.
Framework for Liberation: A Transformative Journey. Understanding society is not just an academic exercise – it is a journey that begins with self-discovery and leads to the transformation of the world we inhabit. The first step is recognizing how our thoughts and actions are shaped by dominant narratives. By liberating ourselves from these constraints, we gain the clarity to envision and create better societies.
The methodology of Uloom ul Umran, introduced in the first chapter of my forthcoming textbook, offers a framework for this transformation. Inspired by Ibn Khaldun, it challenges the deterministic models of modern economics and emphasizes:
The interconnectedness of social, economic and cultural changes.
The rejection of static, universal laws in favour of evolving theories.
The importance of stepping outside dominant paradigms to gain deeper insight.
This journey of self-discovery is both thrilling and enlightening. While conventional economics endorses selfishness and even deception, this approach reconnects us with our shared humanity. By changing how we think and act, we unlock the potential to transform not only ourselves but the societies around us.
Source: Real World Econ Rev blogs
1. https://rwer.wordpress.com/2025/01/03/understanding-society-via-self-discovery/
