Capitalism is a direct result of human nature. There’s a reason why we had to regulate the hell out of it, and that’s because humans, by and large, are greedy selfish animals.
Nah, the evidence suggests that most children develop empathy before they’re 5 years old. Altruism is an innate trait of many intelligent, social species and we aren’t an exception. The problem is that we live within systems that reward anti-social behavior. The laws are to control the minority. (In theory. They don’t work when the broken people get too much power.)
Or we have laws because a few grifters were so evil and were able to take advantage of the altruism of the majority so badly that we needed rules. The people had to be protected from themselves. If everyone was evil, they would all be so bent on conning each other that it wouldn’t be profitable in the first place. I will say that it seems like a lot more grifters have shown up recently. That might correlate to desperation, lead poisoning, or microplostics though.
But it isn’t. Capitalism didn’t just magically appear. It’s the result of human greed after the industrial revolution.
If capitalism had been possible before the IR, it would have happened. Most of human history is the people in power abusing the masses for personal gain.
I agree it is the result of human greed. But as always the systems we live in were created by the wealthy. The average human of the time didn’t want that they got.
Because when revolution does happen, things can become pretty harmonious. For a while. Then the greed and corruption seep back in and we’re right back where we were.
History repeats itself because most people are too nice to take the ruthless steps required to squash corruption before it looks like a problem. Just like we (Americans) were too forgiving of the Confederacy and let those racist traitors live, let alone continue to self-govern and exert power over others.
I think the vast majority of people just want to go to work, accomplish something that makes the world a little better, get a pat on the back and then go home. There are some people who are selfish greedy animals and capitalism was built entirely by and for those people. They get a thrill out of getting ahead and making more money and feeling superior to others the rest of us get to suffer.
Humanity doesn’t innately have capitalism, at least not the majority.
Capitalism is a direct result of human nature. There’s a reason why we had to regulate the hell out of it, and that’s because humans, by and large, are greedy selfish animals.
That is bullshit essentialism. Humans are not born greedy or evil.
In the past many people could also say that slavery, murder or rape were also in human nature. They are not.
They are, though. There’s a reason why we have laws trying to govern the behavior, and why people still do it regardless of the legality of it.
It’s nice to think that we’re an altruistic species, but the evidence is seriously lacking.
Nah, the evidence suggests that most children develop empathy before they’re 5 years old. Altruism is an innate trait of many intelligent, social species and we aren’t an exception. The problem is that we live within systems that reward anti-social behavior. The laws are to control the minority. (In theory. They don’t work when the broken people get too much power.)
Or we have laws because a few grifters were so evil and were able to take advantage of the altruism of the majority so badly that we needed rules. The people had to be protected from themselves. If everyone was evil, they would all be so bent on conning each other that it wouldn’t be profitable in the first place. I will say that it seems like a lot more grifters have shown up recently. That might correlate to desperation, lead poisoning, or microplostics though.
That’s human behavior right there, buddy.
that is just an oft-repeated myth that capitalism uses to perpetuate itself.
But it isn’t. Capitalism didn’t just magically appear. It’s the result of human greed after the industrial revolution.
If capitalism had been possible before the IR, it would have happened. Most of human history is the people in power abusing the masses for personal gain.
I agree it is the result of human greed. But as always the systems we live in were created by the wealthy. The average human of the time didn’t want that they got.
It’s still human behavior, and human behavior also includes following those people.
But is it really following when there’s no other choice but revolution?
Yes, it is.
Because when revolution does happen, things can become pretty harmonious. For a while. Then the greed and corruption seep back in and we’re right back where we were.
History repeats itself because of human behavior.
History repeats itself because most people are too nice to take the ruthless steps required to squash corruption before it looks like a problem. Just like we (Americans) were too forgiving of the Confederacy and let those racist traitors live, let alone continue to self-govern and exert power over others.
I think the vast majority of people just want to go to work, accomplish something that makes the world a little better, get a pat on the back and then go home. There are some people who are selfish greedy animals and capitalism was built entirely by and for those people. They get a thrill out of getting ahead and making more money and feeling superior to others the rest of us get to suffer.