Introduction

The origins of Creative Utilitarianism can be traced to the work of influential philosophers and political theorists such as Noam Chomsky, Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, Alfred North Whitehead, and Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. These thinkers have explored the implications of individual autonomy and collective action for economics, political structures, and religion.

Chomsky's Anarchosyndicalism, for example, emphasizes the importance of decentralization and worker control in creating a more egalitarian and democratic society (Chomsky, 1979). Sen and Nussbaum's Capability Approach focuses on the capabilities and opportunities that individuals have to lead flourishing lives (Sen, 1999; Nussbaum, 2011). Whitehead's Process Philosophy emphasizes the dynamic and interconnected nature of reality, and the importance of creativity and novelty in the world (Whitehead, 1929). Deleuze and Guattari's ontology explores the ways in which individuals can create and control their own lives, and the potential for collective action to challenge dominant power structures (Deleuze & Guattari, 1980).

These ideas have been combined and developed into a distinct philosophy of Creative Utilitarianism, which emphasizes the importance of individual autonomy and collective action in creating a more equitable and sustainable world. Creative Utilitarianism has the potential to challenge dominant power structures and promote sustainable innovation, reducing oppression and expanding individual potential for creative expression.

In the following chapter, we will explore the development of Creative Utilitarianism as a distinct philosophy, and examine the implications of Creative Utilitarianism for economics, political structures, and religion. We will draw on a range of sources and references to support our arguments and provide a comprehensive overview of the key ideas and applications of Creative Utilitarianism.