CHAPTER VI CAPITALIST ETHICS
§ 1 Capitalist Ethics and the Impracticability of Socialism
Ethical Socialism argues that a moral improvement in people is needed before Socialism can succeed. However, the real issue is not moral shortcomings, but the difficulties of creating a socialist economy. Socialism fails because it can't perform necessary economic calculations. Even if people were morally perfect, a socialist community would struggle to measure each person's contribution and assign rewards accordingly. The belief that a new type of human, who finds joy in labor, is necessary for Socialism is misguided. Ultimately, the failures are rooted in intellectual challenges, not moral ones.
§ 2 the Alleged Defects of Capitalist Ethics
Acting reasonably involves prioritizing important goals over less important ones by making temporary sacrifices. Moral behavior entails these sacrifices for social cooperation, which is essential for fulfilling human needs. However, many anti-utilitarian ethical systems misunderstand the purpose of sacrifice, mistakenly viewing it as inherently valuable rather than a means to an end. They idealize unselfishness and self-sacrifice, often equating pain with moral action. This leads to labeling neutral or harmful behaviors as moral. The critique emphasizes that seeking pleasure and avoiding pain are not inherently evil. Rejecting capitalist ethics in favor of socialist ideals without understanding these principles is viewed as arbitrary.
§ 1 Capitalist Ethics and the Impracticability of Socialism
Ethical Socialism argues that a moral improvement in people is needed before Socialism can succeed. However, the real issue is not moral shortcomings, but the difficulties of creating a socialist economy. Socialism fails because it can't perform necessary economic calculations. Even if people were morally perfect, a socialist community would struggle to measure each person's contribution and assign rewards accordingly. The belief that a new type of human, who finds joy in labor, is necessary for Socialism is misguided. Ultimately, the failures are rooted in intellectual challenges, not moral ones.
§ 2 the Alleged Defects of Capitalist Ethics
Acting reasonably involves prioritizing important goals over less important ones by making temporary sacrifices. Moral behavior entails these sacrifices for social cooperation, which is essential for fulfilling human needs. However, many anti-utilitarian ethical systems misunderstand the purpose of sacrifice, mistakenly viewing it as inherently valuable rather than a means to an end. They idealize unselfishness and self-sacrifice, often equating pain with moral action. This leads to labeling neutral or harmful behaviors as moral. The critique emphasizes that seeking pleasure and avoiding pain are not inherently evil. Rejecting capitalist ethics in favor of socialist ideals without understanding these principles is viewed as arbitrary.