Is greed synonymous with capitalism?

Question

maybe I should add that 10% of the population control 80% of the wealth

Answer 1

I agree that the two share similar attributes, but I think that greed is more synonymous with hoarding. Capitalism is simply commerce for the purpose of individual gain. Greed would be Capitalism taken to the extreme.

Answer 2

No, they are not synonyms--they are, however closely related. Without greed, it is difficult, if not impossible, for a capitalist system to survive. Capitalism rests on the fact that people want more for their families and themselves than they currently have; while this can certainly be harmful, it's not necessarily a bad thing. The existence of this desire has been much discussed: it is the reason that communism tends to fail, and its existence is one of the tenets of the Buddhist faith, as it is a form of suffering.

Answer 3

No. Capitalism is a system of financial risk and reward.

Greed is mere coveting of things and wealth without consideration of how they are obtained. The truly greedy take no risks, they simply take.

Answer 4

Not necessarily. It's like anything else, capitalism has a good and bad side. It all depends on how you use it. One can provide a good service or product at a fair market price for the well being of the consumers and society, or can take advantage of a need and make a killing.

Answer 5

Not with true capitalism. True capitalism was supposed to be that anyone would have a fair market if they wanted to open their own business, they could support themselves and their family, etc.

But with capitalism as is typically found, such as in the United States of WalMart, it is definitely run by greedy, money-hungry corporate suits. And it's killing the economy big time.

Answer 6

I think why communism has never worked is more synonymous with greed, actually.