NOTE: This is article seeks only to entertain and spark some thoughts, not make any claims.
In this article I assume that the lack of praxis of a morals first principle is the “root of all evil” and I aim to show that an implementation of such a praxis is the very best shot we all have to live a good life. By implementing moral responsibility into our everyday action and behaviour (shift our ideal and drive from ego, show-off and profit-maximising to inclusive, considerate and caring), and by questioning behaviours of others when we sense moral doubt, I believe that we can collectively achieve a currently non-existing insurance of good life within the non-existent goodness within the capitalist machinery.
So let’s take a step back. My assumption is that capitalism in itself has no moral obligation, and is currently purely driven, and seemingly even justified by, it’s profit maximising growth character. The only value it knows could translate into money. The assumption of an exponential growth in terms of company goals, economy, and technology leads the way and justifies any behaviour. Surely any capitalist would agree that capitalism knows no moral. Functionally maybe the killing of people would be a stupid mood, as you’d kill potential customers or workers, but if it’s a person who’s a threat to your growth, it may very well be justified, at least along the growth maximising standard.
There are many reasons for questioning the capitalist machinery. The more and more centralised wealth translates into centralised power has an almost monarchic character.
The extraction of resources cannot be questioned by anyone apart from governments within countries, as we see over and over again, how groups of individuals after long fights against companies can no longer stand a chance against resource extraction in their own or other areas. This leading to an extreme lack of biodiversity, reduction of potential future resource extraction, as well as collapses of ecosystems we don’t even know the impact of.
There’s exploitation of people, who have very low living standards, but must remain in the capitalist system, as it’s the only way they know of, how to acquire money in order to ensure their and their families’ survival.
While humans are replaced with technology, it doesn’t lead to more leisure, but to less work possibilities. In some countries in the western world who thrive on the suffering of others, we for the time being have welfare states who ensure our survival, and could offer us a way out of functioning within the “producing” part of the capitalist system, and instead have more leisure.
In these parts of the world we hear the stories of capitalism, and the very “natural” even “evolutionary” development necessary for becoming a “developed” county. So we from a young age believe that “this is just the way it is and has to be, and there’s nothing wrong about it”, and enter our cloud of ignorance; in which we don’t feel morally responsible for very clear direct chains of production; interconnection with the people of misery while blindly consuming unnecessary goods. We even hear success stories of Pakistani women who would never have become economically independent if it weren’t for Primark. Suddenly the story shifts, and it becomes morally irresponsible to stop buying at Primark; it becomes a feminist act!
Marketing with its mass manipulation and psychological tricks has gone so far that we no longer know or reflect on what we really need or even want. Our natural conformist attitude doesn’t help us to question the narrative or our own behaviour either.
Misinformation, fake news and algorithms shift our focus towards hatred on “other” groups. Stress and false ideals about what it means to live a good life does so too. We focus on whatever stresses us and we forget about the bigger picture, or what is really important in life.
If anyone wants to tell me that capitalism is good, and leads to good things, apart from maybe innovation. Please tell me why the very living capitalism within the United States of America is reaching its downfall? Which mechanisms can you tell me are good within a society which keeps you working three jobs to hope for a better life, which is always going to be that carrot on the stick, always out of reach? What good is innovation if it’s not for the greater good of humanity?
Within the capitalist system anything and every behaviour is justified by and through the economic growth on the side of the producer; the one in power.
I have questions, which no libertarian seems to want to answer. They avoid them or make fun of them. When did we get the “right” to ownership (leading to endless extraction and disastrous climate change)? Is it a human right to survive? Who or what is responsible for human misery and suffering caused within the capitalist system?
The typical overignorant, arrogant and belittling vibe I get from the libertarian camp is repulsing to me. If I don’t sense compassion in a person or in an argument, I’m not convinced.
It was always my concern, why I couldn’t fully embrace the anarchy of capitalism; libertarianism, when we - the market - decide what should be and what should not be. The very reason this cannot last is the one mentioned and that I wish to present here: because we have no ensured moral agency. Only by becoming moral agents, through practising our moral responsibility in any doubtful situation, can we become free.
Their continuation to justify all the horrible things in this world; wealth and power distribution, injustices, death, extraction of resources and life and much much more, while implying the expected change to come. Things will regulate themselves. Not if it’s too late.
(An acquaintance mentioned the doughnut economy half a year ago, and only recently I looked into it with amaze!)
I sometimes have a feeling that they’re just as swept up in their ideologies as any religious person is in theirs. Convinced to know the truth. Convinced to belief in evolutionary mechanisms, without understanding the very mechanism of evolution. Becoming self defensive if you question anything. A little bit like a three-year-old kid, who just connected with their ego and think they know everything, and believe they can rule upon everyone around them.
There’s clearly no justice in the capitalist system. That’s why we need to create justice for ourself, and realise the wealthy, the powerful, as part of the justice system. We are all obliged to be moral persons if we want to be treated morally/with moral concern.
The capitalist system in in itself doesn’t ensure anything at all. As we can see in our globalised world, there are no mechanisms for health insurance, food, housing, education or fairness. As the technological advancement and digitalisation continues to pave the road, it becomes evident that less manpower is needed to fulfil the same task. Yet the replaced humans don’t gain anything from this exchange. Instead they have to chase the next job opportunity in order to stay alive, since working is the only means (within a non-welfare state) to access money, in order to buy food, shelter, etc. In the west, at the moment, we’re on the beneficial side of the road, yet, when for how long can anyone feel safe? And when will the previously rich slide to the other side?
With Covid spreading across the lands, again it’s shown that there’s no global moral mechanism which ensures the well-being of humans across the globe. The vaccines are spread to the countries which can afford it, and the secret behind them are kept for future insurance of profit, instead of given for others to produce and prevent the spread of the virus.
This is why we need to start take more moral responsibility in our everyday life, at work, in our consumption and treatment of others.