Capitalism and Spirituality

[Nakosis]

You must practice a very strange version of capitalism.
Mine provides service to all sorts of people.

That is the smartest kind of capitalism. Unfortunately being smart is not a requirement of being a capitalist.

 

[Revoltingest]

That is the smartest kind of capitalism. Unfortunately being smart is not a requirement of being a capitalist.

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Capitalism is tolerant of stupidity.
Companies run in a stupid fashion tend to fail,
die, & be replaced by other companies.
But in socialism, when stupidity infects the very
top of its centralized economy, it endures because
there's no alternative.

 

[Fool]

Spirituality is up to the individual, whatever
economic system they enjoy...or endure.

I agree 100%. spiritualy = mentality.

 

[Fool]

I think it mostly serves, not just any self, but powerful selves. However, I am willing to bet that a particularly clever capitalist could just as easily make life enriching.

the mind can only focus on one thing or the other. it doesn't multi-task. the mind can't profit from someone and be of service to all; unless the person is robbing someone to give to the poor. philanthropy or altruism

 

[Fool]

I see spirituality is a motivation for selfless service in any capacity one can find to serve others.

When used correctly, work can even become worship, as it enables us to undertake that work with the aim to do be the best at what we do, to be a benefit for others and use the wages made to help family, friends and as many as we can.

We can use capitalism as a means to help the less fortunate.

Regards Tony

jesus uses this idea with the parable of the talents. this kind of lends itself to the idea of meritocracy. basically a guardian/parent in relationship to it's wards

 

[Fool]

I don’t think that I actually understand this question.

Capitalism addresses the clearly mundane (as in “worldly”) issue of capital. Spirituality addresses something completely different.


Humbly,
Hermit

to live in the mundane is to exist in the mundane.

spirituality literally means mentality

they are synonyms and exist as one thing even in the mundane

 

[Fool]

Capitalism is a service to those already born into money and privilege, and on rare occasions, the extremely lucky. I see no connect to spirituality.

at a minimum it goes to the idea of gluttony, hoarding

luke 12:16-21

 

[Fool]

I wouldn't say that capitalism is about service to the self. If anything, it is a democratic theory of value where buyers and sellers collectively cooperate to determine the "market value" of goods and services.

The original idea proposed by Adam Smith was in opposition to mercantalism, where value was assigned based on its benefit to a centralized government. It was meant to free the market from the control of any specific institution so that it could be in the hands of everyone, hence the term "free market."

A devout capitalist would not see the success of their business as solely benefiting themselves but would say that their business succeeds because market forces have determined that it provides valuable goods and services. That's not inherently selfish. In its own way, it is quite pro-social.

Capitalism is easily abused by selfish people, and that can constitute a pragmatic deconstruction of the theory, but many capitalists can respond that no economic system is perfect when it's implemented. Capitalism is still the best alternative to them.

Whether you agree with that or not, that position isn't held exclusively due to selfishness, either.

you can't love someone who is in need and make a profit off of the poor. are you going to haggle over a price in order to save a drowning person?

 

[Fool]

Capitalism is systematized greed. It doesn't get any more selfish then that. Spiritually, it's poison to everyone it touches.

love of self is still a type of love. love of one's family is still a type of love; but obviously that love only lasts in relationship to what is believed to be a limited self. unconditional love goes beyond that? but capitalism is a love for empowering self more than other as self? a constant war maybe? even at odds with their "belief" in their god but money is preferred in actuality?

 

[Fool]

Your socialism & communism are as spiritual as....

actually socialism and communal living have worked for millenniums in monastic life. All the major spiritual/mental cultures manifest some form of it.

 

[Fool]

Capitalism is tolerant of stupidity.
Companies run in a stupid fashion tend to fail,
die, & be replaced by other companies.
But in socialism, when stupidity infects the very
top of its centralized economy, it endures because
there's no alternative.

I suspect the amish would disagree with you.

 

[Revoltingest]

actually socialism and communal living have worked for millenniums in monastic life. All the major spiritual/mental cultures manifest some form of it.

I've oft said that voluntary socialism can work well.
But this differs from the involuntary kind imposed
upon entire countries.

 

[Fool]

I wouldn't say that capitalism is about service to the self. If anything, it is a democratic theory of value where buyers and sellers collectively cooperate to determine the "market value" of goods and services.

The original idea proposed by Adam Smith was in opposition to mercantalism, where value was assigned based on its benefit to a centralized government. It was meant to free the market from the control of any specific institution so that it could be in the hands of everyone, hence the term "free market."

A devout capitalist would not see the success of their business as solely benefiting themselves but would say that their business succeeds because market forces have determined that it provides valuable goods and services. That's not inherently selfish. In its own way, it is quite pro-social.

Capitalism is easily abused by selfish people, and that can constitute a pragmatic deconstruction of the theory, but many capitalists can respond that no economic system is perfect when it's implemented. Capitalism is still the best alternative to them.

Whether you agree with that or not, that position isn't held exclusively due to selfishness, either.

it's simply a difference between a need and a want. unfortunately humans can develop a bias to things they really need but want. that is how the market value is determined. even dirt can be sold if someone wants it bad enough.

 

[Revoltingest]

I suspect the amish would disagree with you.

The Amish aren't socialists.
They own their own farms & businesses.
Cooperating as a community is just their
version of what we achieve thru taxation.

BTW, they've the reputation for sneaking
past the gate at engine shows (to avoid
paying). I've never caught them doing it
though.

 

[Fool]

I've oft said that voluntary socialism can work well.
But this differs from the involuntary kind imposed
upon entire countries.

i agree but all cultures have some form of mental/spiritual governance or economy. everything is allow in free will. and the more people you can convince; especially out of fear or love the better/worse it works

 

[Revoltingest]

i agree but all cultures have some form of mental/spiritual governance or economy. everything is allow in free will. and the more people you can convince; especially out of fear or love the better/worse it works

I don't understand that.
But I don't disagree.

 

[Fool]

The Amish aren't socialists.
They own their own farms & businesses.

BTW, they've the reputation for sneaking
past the gate at engine shows (to avoid
paying). I've never caught them doing it
though.

everything is owned as a whole by the group. they have elders like most and seemingly everything functions on merit but again we're dealing with humans. unfortunately the tend to cover up some social ills. sexual abuse is one

 

[Fool]

I don't understand that.
But I don't disagree.

love of self and love of all as self are still forms of love. they are allowed. but like trump, that love of self can only profit some blow back. he who sows the wind, reaps the whirlwind.

 

[Revoltingest]

everything is owned as a whole by the group. they have elders like most and seemingly everything functions on merit but again we're dealing with humans. unfortunately the tend to cover up some social ills. sexual abuse is one

That sure doesn't describe the Amish
I've run into & know of. They individually
buy & own farms & business assets.

As for their social ills, I've no comment.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

to live in the mundane is to exist in the mundane.

spirituality literally means mentality

they are synonyms and exist as one thing even in the mundane

This, basically, is what I meant to say @Fool :

Spirituality is up to the individual, whatever
economic system they enjoy...or endure.

And that’s why I’m not sure what it is that you were asking about capitalism and spirituality.

Humbly,
Hermit