How is capiatalism practiced in America? What it its link to social darwinism? How does social darwinism link to capitalist principles? I've had my head stuck in books for 5 hours and I'm starting to get a headache... If you could help me out, politics and goerment are not my strong points. :)
2007-07-07 17:42:15 · 3 answers · asked by animespaz 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Well. Suffice it to say that the discussion could go on for days, but here goes:
How is capitalism practiced in America? Good, compared to most of the rest of the world, but we've been moving away from it since at least the Great Depression.
Link to social darwinism? Or just darwinism? I'd've said capitalism IS social darwinism, depending on your definitions. Or at least follows the same principle, to wit: generally, and with many caveats, "survival of the fittest."
Great analogy. Reinforces the argument for capitalism even more than the thousands of years of history we have as evidence. How else could we possibly want to structure our economic system other than survival of the fittest?
I wonder what your books say. Is the comparison favorable?
(And all you bleeding hearts out there: I'm not saying people should starve. They shouldn't. I'm talking about which businesses should flourish. Infinitely preferable to letting the gummint decide, or some other arbitrary, if not contrary, device.)
2007-07-07 19:35:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Capitalism was invented as a concept by Adam Smith long before Charles Darwin identified the concept of survival of the fittest. Late 19th century business people tried to claim that capitalism was a form of Darwinian selection for the most talented business people; that it was right and inevitable that the rich be rich because they deserved it. It was survival of the fittest as they saw it. This is one of the core beliefs of the Republican Party today--that the rich deserve to be rich because they are the best competitors.
Sadly, their analysis falls because capitalism requires competition in order for it to work, yet without regulation it inevitably degenerates into monopolies. Production of the rich actually has to do with non-capitalistic monopolies, not capitalism.
2007-07-08 00:50:29 · answer #2 · answered by jxt299 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Social darwinism is what capitalists preach when religion is out of style.
2007-07-08 00:45:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋