Pragmatic Humanism as Positivist Synthesis by Neuroeconomics and Technology Assessment

Review Article

Abstract

Pragmatic Humanism (PH) rejects the idea of abstract core values! Human conclusions must be rooted  in empirical science as claimed by British Empiricism since the 18. Century. A contemporary positivist synthesis must guide both individual and collective behavior. The positive message is that a cognitive synthesis can be based on Neuroeconomic Psychology (NeP) guiding individual behavior and prioritization of collective needs by Universal Technology Assessment (UTA) as reviewed in this study on NeP and UTA constitutes a positivist synthesis disseminated a contemporary PH:

• NeP is based on the Neuroeconomic Model (NeM) between identifies and Open-mindedness correlating positively with risk-willingness, while Consciousness, Agreeableness and Neuroticism correlate negatively with risk-willingness.
• UTA expands the scope of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to a Universal Technology Assessment including Ecology by this Formula on the 3P:

Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) = F(People, Planet and Prosperity)

The marginal global net effect of UTA becomes negative before 2050, wherefore the transition to a carbon neutral economy must be speeded up! An effective OS-means to accelerate the greening of the economy is in an internationalized economy to subsidize alternatives to fossil-energy (ES) such as renewables and nuclear fission. 

ES is discussed, because it contrasts mainstream economics recommending a tariff on fossil energy sources (ET). However, in an internalized economy ET has an internal contradiction, as it deteriorates the international competitiveness of the nation it aims to help. No positivist synthesis alternative to PH is found. Behavioral economists are the primary candidate to disseminate PH to the broad public.