That is a bit too strong. If there is no capitalism but pirate then the progress is due to pirates. We can of course what progress and we would be happier without it but harnessing and consolidation of surplus has played a major role. Whether the capitalism is of the so called State machinery or of the private, it does require capital to be collected and used for developing ideas. so is that all looting. Are resources so because of the use someone found for them or are they resources before that as well. What contribution and credit to the discoverer and what to whom who organised it. Not easy to sort this out for me.
Right, the problem is not entirely capitalism which is known to have the potential for corruption, income disparity, monopolies etc, and this is blamed on human nature. Thus we have laws for checks and balances. The problem is lack of integrity and ethics on the part of elected officials who in turn are elected by a apathetic electorate. No one is holding anyone accountable and right now the fox is guarding the henhouse.
Why only Capitalism, even earlier systems did contribute to society's "progress",including barbarism,slavery,feudalism,kings, queens,Zamindars and our own recent benefactors the British colonialists! Nothing can take away from Capitalism, what it has laudably given to mankind. And even the Businessman in question ends up serving the society, even though essentially in pursuit of his/her own selfish interest. So with Capitalism. Despite its inherently, systemic predatory selfish motives, it has contributed tremendously in making the world human enough. But would that mean that its very selfish core of profit and avarice is to be denied and glossed over! It's about time we also thought of having some checks and balances with respect to the so called human nature, existing so to say on its own with no systemic connections, whatsoever. I wonder , where can the goood or model human nature can be imported from.
I think Ekram has answered most of your questions.As for me, I keep marvelling at the fact that the (truly great) thoughts of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,etc were housed in a Greek economy fully based on slave-labour !
That is a bit too strong. If there is no capitalism but pirate then the progress is due to pirates. We can of course what progress and we would be happier without it but harnessing and consolidation of surplus has played a major role. Whether the capitalism is of the so called State machinery or of the private, it does require capital to be collected and used for developing ideas. so is that all looting. Are resources so because of the use someone found for them or are they resources before that as well. What contribution and credit to the discoverer and what to whom who organised it. Not easy to sort this out for me.
ReplyDeleteRight, the problem is not entirely capitalism which is known to have the potential for corruption, income disparity, monopolies etc, and this is blamed on human nature. Thus we have laws for checks and balances. The problem is lack of integrity and ethics on the part of elected officials who in turn are elected by a apathetic electorate. No one is holding anyone accountable and right now the fox is guarding the henhouse.
ReplyDeleteWhy only Capitalism, even earlier systems did contribute to society's "progress",including barbarism,slavery,feudalism,kings, queens,Zamindars and our own recent benefactors the British colonialists! Nothing can take away from Capitalism, what it has laudably given to mankind. And even the Businessman in question ends up serving the society, even though essentially in pursuit of his/her own selfish interest. So with Capitalism. Despite its inherently, systemic predatory selfish motives, it has contributed tremendously in making the world human enough. But would that mean that its very selfish core of profit and avarice is to be denied and glossed over! It's about time we also thought of having some checks and balances with respect to the so called human nature, existing so to say on its own with no systemic connections, whatsoever. I wonder , where can the goood or model human nature can be imported from.
ReplyDeleteI think Ekram has answered most of your questions.As for me, I keep marvelling at the fact that the (truly great) thoughts of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle,etc were housed in a Greek economy fully based on slave-labour !
ReplyDelete