In this collection of essays, Professor John McMurtry introduces life-value onto-axiology, a philosophical framework that prioritizes objective human life necessities over the abstractions of traditional economic and justice theories. He argues that the modern global order is dominated by a life-blind corporate rights system that treats money-profit as an end in itself, leading to the systematic destruction of environmental and social support systems. McMurtry identifies the civil commons—the shared social structures ensuring universal access to life goods—as the essential ground for authentic human evolution and social justice. By defining legitimate rights based on whether they enable or disable vital life capacities, the text seeks to re-ground human reason in the protection of the life-host. Ultimately, the author calls for a shift toward a life-coherent rationality where economic success is measured by the flourishing of living beings rather than the accumulation of private capital.
