In a little class-room amateur debate thing I have going on, I have to oppose the statement that "Greed is the world's greatest evil". Can anyone take an angle against this?
2007-02-06 06:49:21 · 15 answers · asked by Hankha 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
greed is an evil cant deny it /but religion is an even greater evil
2007-02-06 06:54:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The root of greed is the belief in scarcity, which is essentially the ignorance of the truth that there really is abundance for us all. Therefore, the true 'evil' is ignorance. Because ignorance is the father of false belief, and false belief is the father of greed.
Example: If someone told you that there is a hundred dollar bill on the floor in the room A, people will probably fight over it, thinking that that is the only one available. However, if someone revealed the fact that there are hundred dollar bills everywhere, in all 100 rooms, and more than any person could ever collect, then, nobody will be fighting over them, because there is plenty for everyone.
2007-02-06 07:04:42 · answer #2 · answered by Think Richly™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could give advantages to greed - ambition, invention, hard work and competition can be motivated by greed, and elaborate on how the fruits of those labors are beneficial.
You could explain how greed for knowledge, fame, or praise can inspire people to make themselves better.
If Bill Gates hadn't been 'greedy' and stole MSDOS from some little-known programmers, he wouldn't have the millions of dollars he has now to benefit charities and support humanitarian causes.
Good luck!
2007-02-06 08:37:47 · answer #3 · answered by DeanPonders 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can greed compair to some of the world's worst crimes. Greed is simply an emotion of spite, while murderers and other far more serious criminals do acts consisting of a much greater depth of evil without even considering their emotions.
2007-02-06 06:57:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evil:morally incorrect or undesirable; immoral; depraved. Greed has been a concern over the final numerous years contained in america and many Western Europe. i think of anybody is getting a surprisingly solid theory of what which could do as we inspect the jobless, homeless, and so on. anybody i be attentive to is getting to grasp to stay with much less. the wealthy are a breed aside. the only lesson they could understand is to take their funds away. nonetheless, it is the wealthy who've given us the super shape, artwork and music interior the previous. What do they make contributions now? i in my opinion could opt to be attentive to! even nevertheless, as i've got stated many cases before, Ego is the main concern interior the worldwide. Envy, greed, robbery, homicide all stem from Ego.
2016-09-28 12:25:03 · answer #5 · answered by faim 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are lots of people who have taken positions against that statment. Ayn Rand, Ludwig Von Mises, Adam Smith, etc.
I recommend reading "capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" by Ayn Rand.
2007-02-06 10:16:28 · answer #6 · answered by Evan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you haven't read it already, Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations is really important in answering this question and very influential. He says that a merchant, 'by pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good'.
2007-02-06 08:09:07 · answer #7 · answered by Nikita21 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't hate a greater evil than greed?
2007-02-06 10:10:17 · answer #8 · answered by Blue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Adam Smith "Wealth of Nations":
"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. Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens."
A couple of things in there:
1 Self interest is the engine of the economy
2 Self interest is good - if you look after yourself at least you're not going to be a beggar and a burden on everyone else
Another point to add is that if everyone were content with what they had then no-one would supply a demand for all those "extra things" that people are employed to make. Noone NEEDS a Chocolate bar - but imagine all the starving cocoa farmers if we never bought one.
(Ok its stretching it a bit to equate "self interest" with "greed" - but I bet no one will notice!)
2007-02-06 09:38:26 · answer #9 · answered by anthonypaullloyd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greed breeds ambition. If you didn't want more than you have you would not progress in life. Greed is a great motivator. As lond as it is controlled, greed can be used to accomplish great things.
2007-02-06 07:48:52 · answer #10 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋