Fun fact: what you are saying about humans not being selfish and being naturally cooperative is exactly Adam Smith's point in his Theory of Moral Sentiments. While you didn't mention him, I'll just note that those who accuse him of calling humans "selfish" simply don't read.
When Capitalists talk about "human nature" it's always this weird idea that we're "selfish". Have they looked at humans? Humans are naturally social. Humans are naturally cooperative. That's how we built societies. By cooperating. Socially. In fact, that's the only way to do it.
-
-
-
The Frankfurt School argues that today’s capitalist society isn’t what Adam Smith was talking about. It coincides with everything out just said actually, it’s some good reading if you haven’t yet.
- 5 more replies
New conversation -
-
-
Those two things are not mutually exclusive. Humans are cooperative and social and selfish. Those are two opposite forces acting at the same time in nature: while you do have benefits from being part of a society, egoism will be always a factor in what motivate people's decisions
-
Well said. I was pottering down to see if anyone said it or I would. Nail and head. Terribly frustrating is the proclivity to only pose binary oppositions rather than multiplicities of interrelation
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Humans are cooperatives and social, but they are also selfish and competitive. That’s why we need a system that harnesses all of or dimensions in the most productive way. Hence, a social market system as we have in many European countries.
-
I prefer a system where my competitive side is evaluated on the basis of personal effort and innovativness, rather than on the basis of my contacts in the politburo or ruling class (arguably the latter is also the case on many market-based systems, but to a lesser degree).
- 1 more reply
New conversation -
-
-
Umm. This interpretation sounds very silly and misinformed to me. I haven’t read a single evolutionary psychologist or anyone else writing on human nature and capitalism that does not cite both the competitive and cooperative biological endowments.
-
He’s basically saying what Herbert Marcuse, talked about in Eros and civilization.
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
Our selfish "natures" are definitely learned, and are not inherent
-
Very much agreed
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.