What is the The Creator-Trader?
Introducing the Most Transformative Idea in Philosophical Liberalism (TPL #13)
What if everything we've been taught about human nature is wrong? What if competition and scarcity thinking are actually holding us back from our highest potential?
In the latest episode of The Philosophical Liberal, Joia & Chris dive deep into the ideal they developed as answer to the question of ‘What is human nature at our best?’: The Creator-Trader. This isn't just another self-help framework — it's a fundamental reimagining of how humans can relate to each other, our environment, and our future. Tune in to the full video below to hear the full scope of what could be the most important and transformative philosophical concept of our time!
The Creator-Trader: A Revolutionary Approach to How to Be Human
The Core Concept
What if humanity's highest nature isn't competition, but collaborative problem-solving?
Could moving beyond "predator-prey" dynamics unlock unprecedented human potential?
We believe this single idea could transform the world
From the Jungle to the City of Possibility
How does the "way of the jungle" keep us trapped in zero-sum thinking?
What happens when people pursue their unique talents and trade freely to mutual advantage?
Industrial progress as humanity's natural evolution
Reframing Our Understanding of Human Nature
Creativity, with its making & reshaping of nature, as our greatest power (& our most-natural activity)
Reframing environmental impact as a celebration of human creativity & human nature
Abundance and innovation (i.e., doing more with less) free us from the "fixed pie" mentality, transforming the world into limitless resource potential
The ultimate 'Both-And' synthesis: Calling upon the best of our individual & social natures - providing the ultimate rationale for why we need & want to be with other humans
One Example of How the Creator-Trader ethos allows expansion to & empathy for the rest of nature: Treating pets as family members signals a profound shift in human abundance
A ‘Triple-Win’ Philosophy
Why operating in your "zone of genius" creates value for everyone
Voluntary trading as the prime requirement for the Creator-Trader, and an ideal fundamentally different from exploitation
Why might free enterprise be the key to unlocking human potential?
Future Implications
The Freedom to Create & To Trade with Others: Our Prime Motive
We also discuss how the Creator-Trader ethos could reshape our approach to AI
And what would interstellar exploration and potential alien contact look like through this lens?
** Weekly Call to Action: Living Up to the Creator-Trader Ideal**
Self-Leadership: Where in your life could you shift from competing to collaborating?
Community Leadership: How might you inspire this ethos in your relationships with others in your life?
Synthesis: What's one way you could be more of a Creator-Trader in the next two weeks?
Share your reflections on these Qs below, or send us a DM on what you think of this new ideal & how we can make it even greater still!
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Next week, we'll explore the nuances and practical applications of the Creator-Trader concept to Philosophical Liberalism.