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? So the wealth inequality right? How do you think the wealthy got wealthy without selfishness? You seem to be implying that it isn't the inequality, but that

? So the wealth inequality right? How do you think the wealthy got wealthy without selfishness? You seem to be implying that it isn't the inequality, but that all those poor people should stop being selfish. If only those poor people would stop being selfish, the wealth inequality wouldn't be a problem. LOL.

hirundo 3y ago
Wealth follows a Pareto distribution, and there are many Pareto distributions of things that are not caused by selfishness. https://www.thelangelfirm.com/debt-collection-defense-blog/2018/august/100-examples-of-the-80-20-rule/ https://www.thelangelfirm.com/debt-collection-defense-blog/2... If selfishness isn't a good general explanation for Pareto distributions, is there a reason that it's particularly explanatory for wealth distribution?
- wenebego 3y ago
  They are choosing to further enrich themselves past what any single person can consume, instead of helping those around them, the definition of selfishness.
  - hirundo 3y ago
    You could get the same distribution if everyone is assigned a random amount of selfishness regardless of wealth, but some people are better at achieving their selfish goals than others, or just luckier. How could someone know that the result is primarily due to non-uniform selfishness? You could measure selfishness in small experimental scenarios and try to correlate it with the wealth of the subjects. Does that evidence exist?
    - wenebego 3y ago
      I never claimed that.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
unnamed76ri 3y ago
You seem to be looking for an argument that I don’t care to be invited to.
2devnull 3y ago
“How do you think the wealthy got wealthy” Most inherit it. Then lose it. That’s the typical path of wealth. Rarely, it’s amassed by someone who starts with little. Here these people, the ones who create rather than squander wealth, are called “selfish” often by the wealth squanderers, the children of abundance.

hirundo 3y ago

Wealth follows a Pareto distribution, and there are many Pareto distributions of things that are not caused by selfishness. https://www.thelangelfirm.com/debt-collection-defense-blog/2018/august/100-examples-of-the-80-20-rule/ https://www.thelangelfirm.com/debt-collection-defense-blog/2... If selfishness isn't a good general explanation for Pareto distributions, is there a reason that it's particularly explanatory for wealth distribution?

wenebego 3y ago
They are choosing to further enrich themselves past what any single person can consume, instead of helping those around them, the definition of selfishness.
- hirundo 3y ago
  You could get the same distribution if everyone is assigned a random amount of selfishness regardless of wealth, but some people are better at achieving their selfish goals than others, or just luckier. How could someone know that the result is primarily due to non-uniform selfishness? You could measure selfishness in small experimental scenarios and try to correlate it with the wealth of the subjects. Does that evidence exist?
  - wenebego 3y ago
    I never claimed that.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]

unnamed76ri 3y ago

You seem to be looking for an argument that I don’t care to be invited to.

2devnull 3y ago

“How do you think the wealthy got wealthy” Most inherit it. Then lose it. That’s the typical path of wealth. Rarely, it’s amassed by someone who starts with little. Here these people, the ones who create rather than squander wealth, are called “selfish” often by the wealth squanderers, the children of abundance.