Compartmentalisation only works short term though right? Long term either they integrate their knowledge and change their ways, or don’t, and start making errors of reason, and start failing in reality. So ultimately these businessmen must destroy themselves?
Great video, Dr. Brook. However, I think appeasement plays just as large, or perhaps a larger, role in explaining the hatred of some capitalists for capitalism. http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/appeasement.html.
We have been taught since childhood that we are “our brother’s keeper” and that we should “turn the other cheek.” That is incompatible with being a successful Capitalist, thus the contradiction these folks face all their life. As they get older and wealthy the guilt builds up and they may see it as an obstacle to “eternal life” so they start to atone for their sinnful ways. I wanted a productive, rewarding, and prosperous career; a comfortable and
interesting life—yet my Christian teachings upheld deprivation, humility, and self-sacrifice
as virtues, and those who practiced these virtues were held in high esteem. I fought that contradiction until I was about 30, and then happened to read Atlas Shrugged and “saw the light.” Buffett, Gates, Soros and others have not yet resolved their contradictons, which become more apparent as they see death. Their Capitalist behaviour brought wealth and physical comfort, but not happiness and peace of mind, so now they try altruism—and it certainly will not either.
3 Comments to “Yaron Answers: Why Do So Many Capitalists Hate Capitalism?”
Compartmentalisation only works short term though right? Long term either they integrate their knowledge and change their ways, or don’t, and start making errors of reason, and start failing in reality. So ultimately these businessmen must destroy themselves?
“The Two Halves of Objectivity” http://www.ianurl.com/Reason.pdf
Great video, Dr. Brook. However, I think appeasement plays just as large, or perhaps a larger, role in explaining the hatred of some capitalists for capitalism. http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/appeasement.html.
We have been taught since childhood that we are “our brother’s keeper” and that we should “turn the other cheek.” That is incompatible with being a successful Capitalist, thus the contradiction these folks face all their life. As they get older and wealthy the guilt builds up and they may see it as an obstacle to “eternal life” so they start to atone for their sinnful ways. I wanted a productive, rewarding, and prosperous career; a comfortable and
interesting life—yet my Christian teachings upheld deprivation, humility, and self-sacrifice
as virtues, and those who practiced these virtues were held in high esteem. I fought that contradiction until I was about 30, and then happened to read Atlas Shrugged and “saw the light.” Buffett, Gates, Soros and others have not yet resolved their contradictons, which become more apparent as they see death. Their Capitalist behaviour brought wealth and physical comfort, but not happiness and peace of mind, so now they try altruism—and it certainly will not either.