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Fear is everywhere nowadays, it seems to power capitalism or at least is encouraged by it. I suspect the reason is that actual capitalism (as opposed to the ide

• pitaj 8y ago
  > Fear is everywhere nowadays, it seems to power capitalism or at least is encouraged by it. To the contrary, fear powers the State. > I suspect the reason is that actual capitalism (as opposed to the ideal construct) is more based on Social Darwinism and capital accumulation than on trading for the mutual benefit of all market participants. Depends on what you mean by capitalism. Capital accumulation is useless in a market economy if you don't re-invest it (which is a mutually beneficial trade in itself).
• CryptoPunk 8y ago
  >>I suspect the reason is that actual capitalism (as opposed to the ideal construct) is more based on Social Darwinism and capital accumulation than on trading for the mutual benefit of all market participants. The ideal construct of a market economy is not based on "trading for the mutual benefit of all market participants". As Adam Smith so sagely put it 250 years ago: >>It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages. The mutual benefit is an emergent outcome, not a conscious intent of any particular participant. Advocacy of market economics is largely based on a sober outlook on the nature of man, and a pragmatic plan for improving its condition.