Forum Post: On materialism and it's role in society
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 22, 2011, 11:37 a.m. EST by willis936
(4)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
It is clear that of the many modern philosophers Adam Smith most accurately predicted the world we live in today in The Wealth of Nations. There are many benefits enjoyed by capitalism and materialism. It's proven to maximize utility for the individual arguably acted in the general interest better than the next alternative. Regardless of how successful it is under scrutiny, it is the world we live in today. It is hypocritical to say that materialism is bad and then buy a luxury but that's not to say it's wrong to do so. I personally feel resentment to my dependence on material well being every time I buy a luxury. A few years ago I, like most, would buy things to grant satisfaction. I find myself buying less and less of these luxuries and not because they're beyond my reach. We are raised and programmed to value property, that is the economic way. Work hard to benefit society and yourself. It works. We see the world becoming more and more economic. Things are more efficient than ever and profits keep rising. This sings of a wealthy world. Soon parts of Northern Africa will be domesticated, medical technology is already farther than we ever imagined, and of course communication technology has become readily available to the average person.
We were all born with a natural instinct to gather and store for survival. A natural instinct to care for family and community. This is human nature.
When modern society was formed, we began to sell out our natural instincts. Survival turned into survival with a little more elbow room. Then survival with a little more elbow room and a nice view. Then survival with a little more elbow room, a nice view, and something pretty to hang around our neck.
Fast forward a few thousand years. With the industrial revolution, came mechanized transportation, modern housing, air conditioning, and television.
We had become somewhat spoiled. Somewhat motivated. Still relatively down to Earth. Still modest enough to appreciate one another, care for one another, and work towards a common goal.
Along the way, the potential for increased personal wealth became more and more intoxicating. Now, the vast overwhelming majority want to be rich. They want it so badly, they are willing to sell out basic morality to attain it. They WILL sell out basic morality if given the opportunity.
How can I be so sure? That's easy. Human nature plus years of corrupt influence plus opportunity.
Mother Nature did not plan for modern society. She did not plan for extreme personal wealth. Once attained, we become fully intoxicated. We simply can not process the concept without being corrupted by it. Without compromising our basic morality.
Extreme personal wealth is the single greatest corrupt influence of modern society. With every 'zero' on the paycheck, our basic instincts to care for family and community are compromised.
Those of you who still aren't convinced, consider this:
If God himself gave you the power to end poverty, bring about world peace, and take a bonus of $100,000,000 for yourself, would you do it?
If God himself gave you the power to end poverty, bring about world peace, OR take a bonus of $100,000,000 for yourself, which would you choose?
Which would the vast overwhelming majority choose?
Why are the richest men and women in the world so incredibly determined to get even richer?
How did the world's wealth become so incredibly concentrated?
Why is the concept of a partial redistribution for the good of all so incredibly divisive and controversial?
How is it that virtually every developed nation in the world has become riddled with fear, instability, and rising debt?
How have so many world leaders and those affiliated become even richer as their own economies falter?
The answer is greed. An obsessive desire for extreme personal wealth. It's become a worldwide epidemic. Smashing through moral character like a runaway train.
Not only is the greatest concentration of wealth in world history the single greatest underlying cause of economic instability. The very concept of extreme personal wealth is the most intoxicating and corrupt influence in the history of mankind. There will be no recovery. The train won't stop until the track runs out.
Greed kills. It will be our downfall.
People are greedy, yes, and it's easy to say everyone is sinister, but is that what you really observe? How many times have you had a $5 bill fall out of your pocket only for someone to give it to you? How many times have you done the same thing for someone else? Many people, even those who aren't necessarily wealthy, are philanthropists.
A homo sapien is an animal, but a human isn't. Animals don't have these abstract concepts such as kindness, justice, fairness, liberty, etc. They have survival instinct. We too have that but a benefit of civilization is to escape that tyranny of fear. If I were given the choice of ending war or being the wealthiest man in the world I, like I have faith many others would, would choose the end of war.