Are capitalism and money synonymous? Capitalism is the theory that all individuals are equal owners of their lives, with rights to live in accordance with the laws of the universe. But when it comes to the way in which people use these rights, many critics argue that capitalism is incompatible with the rights of others. In fact, capitalism is at odds with most major world religions, including Christianity. The only philosophy that is compatible with capitalism is Objectivism.
This theory ignores the fact that human beings have basic anthropological characteristics that make them different from other animals. Humans are self-interested creatures by nature. Capitalism curbs this drive by making the needs of others the top priority, thereby diminishing the value of individual self-interest. However, that doesn’t mean that capitalism is the only system that promotes greed. Indeed, there are other aspects of capitalism that have the potential to enhance people’s lives.
In fact, it has long been recognized that capitalism is an inescapable combination of money and greed. The profit motive is the desire to earn income and a fundamental reason for business existence. In accordance with the principle of rational choice theory, businesses seek to make a profit in the form of profits. But the greed motive is not new – people have always had this desire for money power. So, if we look at Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, we see that the lust for gold is not new to mankind.
