Ethosism: Self-Enslavement Abolitionist Manifesto

by Jo M. Sekimonyo

In the global environment of trade and commerce, humankind appears to have given up its natural journey of progression to improve the social order and universally accepted capitalism. But, whilst the richest continue to accumulate vast amounts of wealth, inequality grows and the poorest still live in extreme poverty. This passionate, academic study will go on to present that socialism is just another means of enslaving society under the capitalist model. So, is there a new social, political, and economic arrangement that fits the twenty-first century reality? Ethosism looks at the fact that in the twenty-first century more people than ever before have the means to acquire and own their means of engagement, participation, or involvement in an enterprise. As the result, capitalism, socialism, and communism have lost their raison d'etres. By examining the foremost upheavals of the twenty-first century, wealth inequality and climate change, plus social class conflicts resulting from the paradigm shift, my conviction is that we are in dire need of a morales nuvem consensus which will herald new social, commerce, intermerce, and political covenants that will enable us to successfully traverse the twenty-first century and beyond.

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2020

About the author

Jo M. Sekimonyo is a theorist, human rights activist, political economist, and social philosopher. He is a Congolese born, American fermented and globally bottled Merchant of Ideas. He has been a strong critic of mainstream economists stating that, "these clown shows chip away the substance of economic disparity dialogues".

​On the Labor Theory of Value, Sekimonyo argues that in the twenty-first century, instead of the average number of labor hours, the quality of the means nested in an enterprise to produce a commodity or provide a service establishes relative prices.

​In this context, labor is no longer viewed as a cost but one of the profiteers, as it ought to be. The working class is no longer a cost but one of the profiteers, as it should be.

​Much of his writing has been concerned with "economic injustice, poverty, and egalitarianism".

​His work has been translated into over ten languages.

​Sekimonyo argues that the ability of individuals to understand the world and creatively respond to challenges that confront humanity is key to alleviate poverty. He facilitates several workshops and seminars every year throughout the developing world geared towards stimulating debates around global social issues and mainstream economic theories.

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He is the founder of "En Charge", an independent, non-partisan organization that promotes the participation of young people in social, political and economic dialogues at the national and global levels.

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His more recent work deals with an alternative to capitalism; ethosism.

Reviews

[Christian Freed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book goes deep, hitting hard on several levels as the author breaks down a cohesive argument against the major ruling principles (capitalism, communism, socialism) that have not only kept most of the world’s population in check for centuries but stymied our growth as a race. At times the readings can be dense, but this based on the depth and scope of the excerpts the author collected to make his point. If you are tired of the status quo and find yourself questioning how we arrived at this point, this is the book to read. Thoughtful and with numerous examples by some of the greatest thinking minds in recent history, Ethosism is a must read.

[dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn’t have thought I would ever find myself picking up this type of book, but I’m glad I did. Other books expressing strong views usually seem a little like an instruction manual, but this was very different. It took me quite a bit of pondering on what gripped my attention and made me read on and I realised it was the passion behind the writing. It’s written with such a personal voice that it grabs you in, and makes you want to understand.
The clear and well written explanations of the different systems that currently exist are explained clearly and the agendas behind them highlighted clearly. I learned lots and questioned my own beliefs through reading this and it felt really refreshing to sit with something that made you think.
I liked that although we’re talking about a subject of repression that this wasn’t just a statement of what’s happening in the world, but what we can do about it and how we can make changes that will ultimately have a butterfly effect and make bigger changes in future.
I also loved the references to different figures throughout history and different beliefs expressed. It felt like we had the whole picture here and these were explained and argued comprehensively.
I really think this is a powerful tool that could be used (especially with young people) to show them there are different options, things can change and thinking for themselves is paramount is changing the systems that mean very few people control and benefit from the way societies run currently.
I loved the direct nature, with that personal feel of writing and would look forward to reading future text by the author.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was such an incredibly moving and thought-provoking read. Immediately what stood out to me from the author’s writing was how one of the first lessons taught is how far too little morality is brought into the conversation regarding the economy and wealth as a whole. The capitalist nature that puts the self above all else and leaves behind those who fight to survive and can’t make any headway is something that has weighed on me for a long time, and reading the author’s words was powerful and fantastic to behold.

The exploration of not only why systems like capitalism and socialism don’t work in our modern age and are only hurting our current system, but the author’s ability to thoughtfully and honestly present a new approach to wealth and class systems as a whole through Ethosism was amazing to read. I was immediately struck by the balance of philosophy the author brought into the discussion of politics and economics throughout the book, and the writing style itself was so remarkable, as it moved smoothly from an almost poetic-like writing style to engaging non-fiction reading at its best.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, educational, and moving, author Jo M. Sekimonyo’s “Ethosism: Self-Enslavement Abolitionist Manifesto” is a must-read book on how to shape our society to fit the time that we are living in. The need for change has never been greater, and the only way a society can grow and prosper is by moving forward, not looking back to systems that no longer function.

[Aspiring Authors · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is loaded with a wealth of information. The author was passionate about the message of why poverty still exists and ways to overcome it. Reading this novel was so relatable to how times are now as compared to the past. It puts all of the lawmakers “on blast”, exposing them for their hypocritical ways. In a nutshell, the same politicians that we elect into office to work for the people are basically working for themselves to enhance financial gain and status quo. Time is way overdue for morals and standards to overcome worldwide poverty.

The author utilized many quotes relating to his point of views. However, the one that stood out to me the most was, “There must always be a remedy for wrong and injustice if we only know how to find it.”---Ida B. Wells. Elected officials could find solutions and change. It’s evident that the past catches up to the present when lawmakers become too comfortable with how things are; even when it’s hurting the exact reason that they are sworn into office, the people. Is there really any hope for the future for those in need? This author definitely leads your mind to wonder how things could be if opened to change.

It would be cool to see this work as a class text.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t claim to be an expert on the political economy – I am far from that, but as the world changes around us it is more important than ever to sit up and take notice of the actions currently being done to our economic systems. Here, Sekimonyo provides an excellent discussion into the ways in which lawmakers are eroding the rights of workers within society to their own gain, and asks us to pay attention to the prevalence of worldwide poverty and those who hold the power to do something about it.

It is evident from the very first page how passionate the author is regarding the subject matter, and does a fantastic job of explaining why this is something we all need to take note of, too. Providing the reader with the cold, hard facts while still remaining optimistic to the good that could come about through change, this is a truly eye-opening call to action that should be read by many. An extremely well researched and compelling piece of political and philosophical commentary, all who read Sekimonyo’s words will benefit. A powerful and important read – highly recommend!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

For many years, communism and capitalism have brought misery to untold millions of people all over the world. That is, except for the rich who get much richer, while everyone else gets poorer. This book asserts that even socialism is just another method of enslaving people through capitalism. Is there an alternative?

The author calls it Ethosism. In the present day, more people than ever have the chance to own their own means of engagement or participation in an enterprise. In effect, people can create their own job or career. Therefore, the "isms," communism, socialism and capitalism are much less important than they have been in the past.

This is not "Political Philosophy for Beginners". This book will require some mental effort on the part of the reader. Don't try to understand this entire book in one sitting. Take it one chapter at a time, or even one section (they are only a couple of pages long) at a time. This book is very much worth the time.

[S. Jeyran Main · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethosism is a nonfiction book about how that socialism is just another means of enslaving society under the capitalist model. The author seeks to provide a better understanding of the situation and show how, in the 21st century, we have the means to engage and be involved in any enterprise and, because of it, how Capitalism, socialism, and communism have been affected.
There is no doubt about how in-depth and informative this book is. The author displays an immense amount of knowledge of the subject matter and fully entertains, examines, and forecasts what is happening.

I particularly enjoyed where the author discusses climate change and how social class conflicts result from the paradigm shift.

While this book might not be for everyone but if you are into sociology and economics, you will really enjoy this book.

[Naomie Barnabas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold and timely reimagining of economic and political structures, Ethosism challenges outdated ideologies and offers a compelling blueprint for a more equitable and sustainable future.