Progressive Utilization Theory: Difference between revisions

Human longings are unlimited. What is considered to be an [[#Amenities|amenity]] today may be viewed as a ''minimum requirement'' tomorrow. For example, consider cellphones. This is a relatively new technology. The [http://www.google.com/patents?id=nO8tAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4#v=onepage&q&f=false first patent] to be taken out on a handheld cellphone was in October 1973.<ref name=radiotelsys>[[:wikipedia:Martin Cooper (inventor)|Martin Cooper]], et al., [http://www.google.com/patents?id=nO8tAAAAEBAJ&dq=martin+cooper "Radio Telephone System"], US Patent number 3,906,166; Filing date: 17 October 1973; Issue date: September 1975; Assignee [[:wikipedia:Motorola|Motorola]]</ref> Today, less than 40 years later, there are over 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions, reaching 87% of the global population.<ref>[http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-tools/latest-mobile-stats/a#subscribers "Global mobile statistics 2012 Part A: Mobile subscribers; handset market share; mobile operators"]. ''Mobithinking''. 9 August 2012.</ref> In other words, cellphones have even penetrated the [[:wikipedia:Bottom of the pyramid|bottom of the economic pyramid]], effectively making them what PROUT would deem to be a ''minimum requirement according to era''. In the view of PROUT, human society is not just obliged to provide everyone with the [[#Minimum requirements of life|minimum requirements of life]]. Rather, human society is obliged to provide everyone with whatever may constitute the minimum requirements according to era.<ref>Anandamurti, Shrii Shrii (1962). ''[[Ananda Sutram]]'' (Sutra 5:9). [[Ananda Marga Publications]]. ISBN 81–7252–027–1.</ref>