Update
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Capitalism and Human Nature

Conservatives and Liberals tend to defend capitalism by asserting that it is natural if not a reflection of human nature.
However when it is placed under any degree of scrutiny, this assertion reveals itself to be completly false!
Capitalism is a fairly recent phenomenon. Centuries before the Industrial Revolution precolonial and indigenious populations followed socialist and anarchist principles.
Even putting that aside human behaviour is diverse and has varied so much over the course of our history that the concept of calling any set of characteristics "Human Nature" is absurd.
The only consistent characteristic has been the abillity to adapt to our circumstances.
Therefore if the current system incentivizes greed people are logically going to be more greedy.
It stands to reason, then, that if humanity will adapt to the circumstances it is put under, we should adopt a system that would provide the most good to the most people.
As we have seen throughout it's existance Capitalism is not that system!
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
I suppose it depends on how you define capitalism. Personally I think most definitions of economic systems render down to most people are greedy and how will a society deal with that greed.