3 ms·
I've got to wonder how much this phenomenon is because the US has eschewed social classes. Since there's no arbitrary "divine right" classes to occupy most peop
by mindslight 3y ago
I've got to wonder how much this phenomenon is because the US has eschewed social classes. Since there's no arbitrary "divine right" classes to occupy most people's apparent desire for hierarchy, people actively try to recreate such classes based on the available criteria.
- jampekka 3y agoNew social classes emerged with capitalism to replace the feudal classes. This is the core reason why socialists aren't very fond of the bourgeoisie.
- mindslight 3y agoSure, but wealth-based classes are still missing a larger philosophical justification. The flip side of the virtue of social mobility, if you will. So the philosophical justification gets filled in with the just world fallacy and whatnot.
- jampekka 3y agoI'd say the just world or similar is the contemporary philosophical justification. Fancier framing is that economical position reflects marginal productivity because of efficient markets. And "hard-work" and prosperity theology and genetical superiority and what have you. Marx's thesis is that a system of production/social organization produces ideology (or "superstructure") for it's justification and stability (materialism vs Hegel's idealism). The justifications (e.g. divine right) are probably always quite bad and not very universally accepted.