Robin Garr wrote:Steve H wrote:I can see why Smith would say that Capitalism arises from Natural Law, but I don't see how it follows that Capitalism must lead to assholiness, or at least more so than any other economic system.
Well, teleological ethics doesn't necessarily map to assholiness. I'd call it value-neutral. The idea actually came to mind in response to your post because of a weird koinkydink - within the hour I had typed the following on a theology midterm:
* Teleological ethics directs its primary attention to the goals (“goods”) that we seek in life, simplifying morality by identifying a simple, clearly stated goal in place of the complexities of law and rigidities of morality that had grown up during previous centuries. Adam Smith, the founder of modern economics, urged the adoption of free markets, believing that the “invisible hand” of the marketplace would guide moral choices because good goals would be most likely to succeed.
I don't think Smith would describe his theories as teleological, it's more the opposite. I did some googling for 5 minutes before going to bed last night, and I see that there seems to be some historical revisionists trying to pigeonhole him with that. This could say more about our era, than it does about Smith.
I think his conception of Capitalism understood that values came from religion and culture, independent of the market. I will not argue against the notion that many so-called Capitalists of our era have become unmoored from cultural and religious foundations, constraints, and obligations of the past. There are many reasons for this, but I don't think market economics is to blame.
It's the rent-seeking and the massive growth of government more than anything, IMO. It pushes out community involvement, it pushes out civic involvement, it pushes out private charities, etc. The list is endless.
How about this canary in a coal mine: When Catholics are forced to give up their adoption efforts and considering closing their hospitals due to government interference, something is wrong.
Insightful lad.
...No can do. 'Nuther road trip this weekend...Lindsay Buckingham show in Clev-burg. Sounds like a great idea though, mount up the cavalry.
