◈ The Claim of Modern Man
Modern man claims that he has abandoned the “dogmatism” of religion and based collective life on “science,” which, according to him, is neither rigid nor authoritarian like religion. However, this claim is, in reality, mere rhetoric, because the social sciences upon which modern collective life is founded are, in their structure and methodology, not different from religion. Among these social sciences, the most influential is economics, whose various theories and schools of thought function much like religious principles. These theories, akin to religion, speak of the reality of humanity, specific ethics, the problems of humanity, prescriptions for solutions, promises of a bright future for followers, and dire consequences for dissenters.
◈ Liberal or Neoclassical Economics
According to the theory of liberal or neoclassical economics:
① What is the reality of man?
Man is an autonomous and selfish being who seeks to expand his freedom.
② What is the fundamental problem of humanity?
The fundamental problem of humanity is scarcity, arising from unlimited desires and limited resources.
③ What is the solution to this problem?
The solution is to achieve efficiency through increased production and the pursuit of capital accumulation.
④ What is the method to attain this solution?
The individual must be subjected to the market system, where every person uses their abilities to acquire capital for the fulfillment of their desires. Liberal economists believe that a market system based on perfect competition automatically strives for maximum production, as each individual, in trying to increase personal capital, inadvertently increases collective capital.
⑤ What is the state policy package?
According to liberal economists, it is essential that:
- All societies of the world be compelled to adopt the market system.
- Liberal capitalist states must be established, without which the formation, stability, survival, and growth of the market are impossible.
- These states will enforce liberal capitalist laws (e.g., the human rights framework) at the local level to subject societies to the market system.
- Through privatization, deregulation, and liberalization, global corporate dominance over systems of capital and production growth will be made possible.
- Local powers that pose a threat to the global capitalist system will be eliminated.
- Capitalist sciences (natural and social sciences) will be promoted.
- These states will be overseen by global regulatory bodies that assist in the protection, regulation, and promotion of this system (e.g., IMF, World Bank, etc.).
⑥ Why should humanity adopt this system?
The dominance of the market system will lead to greater efficiency, and the individual will be free to fulfill every desire — in other words, he will become autonomous (self-sufficient).
◈ Socialism (State Capitalism)
Similarly, a framework of socialism, the second major school of economic thought, can also be presented:
① What is the reality of man?
Man is an autonomous being, but the expression of his freedom does not lie in the individual, rather in a specific class.
② What is the fundamental problem of humanity?
The fundamental problem is class struggle, aimed at enabling exploitation. This stems from scarcity, which compels people to seize as many resources as possible, thereby dividing humanity into two classes.
③ What is the solution to this problem?
The solution is the elimination of scarcity, but this necessitates ending class struggle.
④ What is the method to attain this solution?
Abolish private ownership of capital and establish a system of collective ownership, which ensures more efficiency and equity (fair distribution).
⑤ What is the state or political policy package?
The socialist state will be established in such a way that:
- Workers will be united on a single platform to wrest wealth from the exploitative class and establish collective ownership.
- Conflict with the exploitative class is inevitable.
- More and more workers will join this struggle against exploitation.
- As a result of this struggle, a socialist state will be formed, representing the dictatorship of the proletariat (true democracy).
- This state will, for a long time, run state affairs according to socialist teachings and will increase productive resources.
⑥ Why should humanity adopt this system?
As a result of the policies of the socialist state, when productive resources increase:
- Humanity will overcome scarcity, and class struggle will end.
- All classes, families, religions, and nationalities will disappear.
- A new human and society (a communist society) will emerge, where current moral values will become meaningless, and the state will cease to exist.
◈ The Common Foundation of Secular Ideologies
Both branches of secularism agree that their purpose is to make man autonomous; the difference lies only in methodology and strategy. Therefore, it can be said that both socialist and liberal schools are different forms of capitalism. Their common foundational belief is ‘La ilaha illal-insan’, a new atheism born out of the knowledge tradition of Enlightenment.
❖ Conclusion
Social sciences, particularly economics, have become a new religion for modern man, on the basis of which he organizes his personal and collective life, just as a religious person does based on their beliefs. The only difference between the two lies in the source of belief: one is rooted in the will of God, while the other in human desires. Decisions are made not based on public opinion but on capitalist epistemology, as illustrated in the above frameworks.
