15Nov 2025
The New Social Contract: Universal Basic Assets in 2025

As wealth inequality reaches record levels, 2025 is witnessing the first large-scale implementations of Universal Basic Asset (UBA) policies—a philosophical evolution beyond basic income. Alaska’s Permanent Fund (which distributes oil revenues) now includes data dividend payments, while Singapore’s “SkillsFuture” program issues blockchain-verified education tokens. These experiments are rekindling debates about property rights that trace back to Locke and Marx, but with 21st-century twists.

The philosophical innovation lies in decoupling subsistence from labor—not through cash handouts, but through ownership stakes in productive assets. Moroccan philosopher Fatema Mernissi’s concept of “cyber-commons” is gaining traction, with Barcelona’s “data sovereignty” initiative treating personal data as a collectively managed resource. Even conservative economists are reconsidering Thomas Paine’s “Agrarian Justice” proposals in light of AI’s capital concentration.

Critics warn UBA could create new dependencies, while proponents see it as fulfilling the Enlightenment promise of equality. The 2025 test cases—from Kenya’s “land tokenization” to Norway’s “AI dividend”—may determine whether this becomes capitalism’s next phase or its radical alternative. As political theorist Kathi Weeks notes, we’re not just debating economic policy, but fundamentally reimagining what citizens owe each other in the digital age.

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6Mar 2025
The Neo-Aristotelian Revival: Virtue Ethics in 2025’s Political Discourse

Amidst growing disillusionment with utilitarian policymaking, 2025 is witnessing a surprising resurgence of Aristotelian virtue ethics in political philosophy. Leaders across the ideological spectrum are invoking concepts like phronesis (practical wisdom) and eudaimonia (human flourishing) to counter the transactional nature of modern governance. The European Union’s “Wellbeing Economy” initiative explicitly draws on these classical ideas, prioritizing communal happiness over GDP growth. Even in corporate boardrooms, Aristotelian “golden mean” principles are being applied to balance profit motives with social responsibility.

This philosophical shift responds to contemporary crises. Climate change policies are increasingly framed through the lens of intergenerational justice—a modern interpretation of Aristotle’s “common good.” The mental health epidemic has revived interest in his concept of friendship (philia) as a political virtue, with Scandinavian countries pioneering “social connection” infrastructure. However, critics argue that virtue ethics risks becoming a cover for paternalism, noting how China’s “social credit system” appropriates similar language while enforcing conformity.

The 2025 challenge lies in institutionalizing these ancient ideals. Can virtue be legislated? Singapore’s “Shared Values” white paper offers one model, while Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness index provides another. As political theorist Michael Sandel observes, the Aristotelian revival forces us to confront a fundamental question: Should politics aim merely to distribute resources fairly, or to cultivate better citizens? The answer may redefine governance for decades to come.

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