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The Convivialist Manifesto advocates for an 'art of living together' based on principles of common humanity, sociality, and individuation to replace the current global order. It argues that humanity faces self-destructive 'entropical' and 'anthropogenic' threats due to the unlimited accumulation of power and a failure to manage rivalry and violence. The manifesto calls for a transition toward 'prosperity without growth,' the implementation of maximum and minimum wages to curb extreme wealth and deprivation, and a restorative relationship with nature where humanity gives back as much as it takes.

The text advocates for 'convivialism' as a necessary alternative to current global social and economic organization, which it views as potentially self-destructive. It proposes a framework based on four core principles—common humanity, common sociality, individuation, and controlled opposition—to guide moral, political, ecological, and economic decisions. Key proposals include the implementation of a basic income for the poor and a maximum income for the wealthy, a shift toward 'prosperity without growth', and the relocalization of activities to preserve the environment and social bonds.

The Compendio del Manifiesto Convivialista argues that humanity's technical and material wealth has not increased happiness and instead threatens survival through 'entropic' and 'anthropic' threats. It proposes 'convivialism'—an art of living together that prioritizes social relations and nature over the accumulation of power. The manifesto outlines a doctrinal minimum based on four principles: common humanity, common sociality, individuation, and controlled creative opposition. It advocates for a 'prosperity without growth,' the establishment of minimum and maximum incomes to curb extreme inequality, and a reciprocal relationship with nature where humans return as much as they take. The text calls for the localization of economies and the elimination of unemployment to counter the destructive dynamics of globalization.

The document presents a vision of "applied hope," which Lovins defines as a deliberate choice to act on the conviction that practical, scalable solutions can improve the world. He argues against passive optimism and pervasive dread, advocating instead for "integrative design" and "advanced resource efficiency" to phase out fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Lovins envisions a future where carbon emissions decline profitably, biodiversity recovers, and global stability is achieved by treating the world's problems as interconnected systems rather than isolated issues.