A moment that changed me: The day I discovered that indeed small is beautiful

Small is beautiful is the antidote to the vandalism and vulgarity of neoliberalism, the ideology that has always championed greed and envy, amongst other human vices. 

Photo via eurasiareview

“If human vices such as greed and envy are systematically cultivated, the inevitable result is nothing less than a collapse of intelligence. A man driven by greed or envy loses the power of seeing things as they really are, of seeing things in their roundness and wholeness, and his very successes become failures. If whole societies become infected by these vices, they may indeed achieve astonishing things but they become increasingly incapable of solving the most elementary problems of everyday existence.”

“At present, there can be little doubt that the whole of mankind is in mortal danger, not because we are short of scientific and technological know-how, but because we tend to use it destructively, without wisdom. More education can help us only if it produces more wisdom.”

N.B. At the time when we have handed over ethical, moral, and spiritual questions to the market, and when these values which are what makes us human, are in retreat, we must search for an educational tradition that emphasises ideas of “virtue” and “the good life”. Education must rediscover its moral purpose, and become a subject of beauty, wisdom and goodness.

Moreover, at this time of confusion, when the world of knowledge and competence is in a state of flux, ‘Small is Beautiful’ has shown us that a values-led education can do more than stumble in the dark; it can point to the light and wisdom. This has been a gift to the world. Long may it be so.

A time for a new deal and a transformative education 

‘Our world is facing unprecedented challenges - climate change, violent and hateful ideologies, mass loss of biodiversity, new conflicts and the risks of global pandemics to name only a few.

‘Education systems need to be reoriented to equip learners with the knowledge, values, and abilities to act for the betterment of all people and the planet, as responsible citizens of a global community.

‘Transformative education involves teaching and learning geared to motivate and empower happy and healthy learners to take informed decisions and actions at the individual, community and global levels.​

‘Learners must engage with the world and find coherence between the world they experience in school and the world we all wish to build outside school.

‘To build this world, we need to learn to read and write, but we also need to learn collaboration, empathy, complex problem solving, connection to other human beings and nature.

‘Education can only be “transformative” when students feel valued, acknowledged, safe and are included in the learning community as full and active members. This starts by preventing and addressing school violence and bullying, gender-based violence, as well as health and gender related discrimination towards learners and educators.

‘Teachers are expected to transform their teaching, for example, ensuring that the curriculum, pedagogy, learning materials, schools or learning environments are meaningful in the natural, political, economic, and cultural contexts. For education to be of high quality, it must be transformative.’- UNESCO, 2023

We need a better education to build a better world

As I had noted elsewhere:

“Schumacher’s Small is Beautiful is an appeal to the deep instinctive understanding of the common good that all people share.

“It is an appeal to our essential humanity. It deals with some of the most pressing concerns of people the world over, concerns which every generation must consider and answer.

“The book encourages us to reflect on and to understand things we all seem to have forgotten:

What is Education? What is Knowledge? What is Wisdom? What is Economics? What is Business? What is Beauty? What is Justice? What is Love?  What is Philosophy? What is Ethics? What is Humanity? What is Nature? What is Art? What is Culture? What is the World? What is a University? What is a School? What is Literature? What is Poetry? What is Life? What is Teaching? What is Learning? What is Work? What is Vocation? What is Money? What is Greed? What is Enoughness? What is for the Common Good? What is Kindness? What is Empathy? What is Humility? What is the Meaning of this Journey we call Life?...What is the Connection between Education, Spirituality and Humanity?

Education, the World of Work and “Small is Beautiful”

The main problem Schumacher perceived with modern education was that it had abandoned the incorporation and guidance of traditional wisdom, which helped us answer questions like “What is our purpose in life?” and “What are our ethical obligations?” He thought that education had become “worse now because the ever more rigorous application of the scientific method to all subjects and disciplines has destroyed even the last remnants of ancient wisdom—at least in the Western world. It is being loudly proclaimed in the name of scientific objectivity that ‘values and meanings are nothing but defence mechanisms and reaction formations…

‘Our task--and the task of all education--is to understand the present world, the world in which we live and make our choices. The problems of education are merely reflections of the deepest problems of our age. They cannot be solved by organisation, administration, or the expenditure of money, even though the importance of all these is not denied. We are suffering from a metaphysical disease, and the cure must therefore be metaphysical. Education which fails to clarify our central convictions is mere training or indulgence. For it is our central convictions that are in disorder, and, as long as the present anti-metaphysical temper persists, the disorder will grow worse. Education, far from ranking as man's greatest resource, will then be an agent of destruction…’-Walter G. Moss, ‘E. F. Schumacher on Wisdom and Education.’  

Education is to enable people to develop wisdom. Education should empower people to connect with the key issues of life – such as how they could be truly healthy and happy and  it should help people:

To act as spiritual beings.

To act as neighbours and to render service.

To act as responsible people.

To be creatively engaged, using and developing the gifts that they had been blessed with.

Moreover,  it reminds us to be true to the spirit of the Earth that has given us life. The danger was that we would become disconnected.

Therefore we needed to recognise what was truly important in life. “The generosity of the Earth allows us to feed all mankind; we know enough about ecology to keep the Earth a healthy place; there is enough room on the Earth, and there are enough materials, so that everybody can have adequate shelter; we are quite competent enough to produce sufficient supplies of necessities so that no one need live in misery.”

“Small is Beautiful” has left us with an enduring legacy,  bringing a profound wisdom and humanity to bear on the practical challenges of our time, by envisioning, enabling and empowering us to do good work and build a more kind, just and ecologically sustainable society.

A moment that changed me: The day I discovered that indeed small is beautiful

Small is Beautiful:

The Wisdom of E.F. Schumacher and Me

"Perhaps we cannot raise the winds. But each of us can put up the sail, so that when the wind comes we can catch it."-E.F. Schumacher (16 August 1911-4 September 1977)

‘I discovered Schumacher and “Small is Beautiful” in 1979. To be precise: on August 11, 1979. I had written the date I purchased the book on the first page. At that time I was an undergraduate studying economics at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

When I saw the book in the window of a second-hand book shop, I was very much intrigued by the title and also the sub-title Economics as if people mattered which caught my imagination. Thus, I bought the book and began to read it immediately. I could not put it down and finished it in a few days.

For sure I didn't understand every word, indeed I suspect I was lost at times, but it thrilled me. Here was a new way of looking at many questions in my head about economics and the economy, an approach that I felt in my enthusiasm was so absolutely right that it couldn't possibly be opposed.   I was instantly converted to a new way of looking at my personal life as well as the socio-political and economic concepts.  I suspect I became a `small is beautiful' man!

Schumacher’s thoughts have never left me.  Yes, I moved on, put the book to one side and no doubt compromised.  Recently however, I've gone back to it.  I have realised that its insights are more relevant than ever.  I know again, as I did 32 years ago, that Fritz Schumacher was absolutely right and I hope that, in a modest way, we are being worthy of his legacy (See more below- Epilogue: E.F. Schumacher and I).

At present the wisdom of E. F. Schumacher seems more relevant than ever…’-Small is Beautiful: The Wisdom of E.F. Schumacher

In Conclusion, for me, Schumacher’s charming innocence, universal compassion and thirst for true knowledge mark him out as a teacher in the great traditions of religious and philosophical sages who embrace the one universal truth.  He was – and still is- a giant among men, who truly deserves to be described as a friend to mankind, renaissance man, and bridge of reconciliation between cultures.

I thank Schumacher for inspiring me and countless others. May God grant Schumacher eternal rest; he was, in the old idiom, a lovely man, who if required, may still be a peacemaker in heaven.

See also:

Economics and What it Means to Be Human

Economics as Enabler and Economists as Empowerers of the Good Life and the Good Society

Economic Growth: The Index of Misery

Schumacher’s ‘ Small is Beautiful’ has enabled and empowered me to imagine a better world, a world of beauty, wisdom, goodness and prosperity for all. 

I am now hopeful, because I can imagine

Imagine a political system that puts the public first.  Imagine the economy and markets serving people rather than the other way round.  Imagine us placing values of respect, fairness, interdependence, and mutuality at the heart of our economy. Imagine an economy that gives everyone their fair share, at least an appropriate living wage, and no zero-hour contracts.  Imagine where jobs are accessible and fulfilling, producing useful things rather than games of speculation and casino capitalism.  Imagine where wages support lives rather than an ever expanding division and separations between the top 1% and the rest.  Imagine a society capable of supporting everyone’s needs, and which says no to greed.  Imagine unrestricted access to an excellent education, healthcare, housing and social services.  Imagine hunger being eliminated, no more food banks and soup kitchens.  Imagine each person having a place he/she can call home.  Imagine all senior citizens living a dignified and secure life.  Imagine all the youth leading their lives with ever-present hope for a better world.  Imagine a planet protected from the threat of climate change now and for the generations to come. Imagine no more wars, but dialogue, conversation and non-violent resolution of conflicts.

Journey to Healing: Let Me Know What is Essential

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