Philosophy Now Forum

Capitalism and Darwinian Evolution
There is seemingly a vanity that capitalism is an economic and social form of natural selection. Darwin for human civilization. It is obviously nothing of the kind.
Natural evolution confers genetic advantage on populations that is inherited. It benefits social groups, or at least keeps them secure in their environment.
Capitalism confers advantage of a monetary and economic kind on individuals. An advantage that may have social benefit and may not. It then passes that monetary advantage on to a new generation of a family. Money is not genetics. The new generation may be mentally incompetent, but form a ruling class based on privilege.
Capitalism may have some social benefit where it merely rewards a particular person for what he does for society, that reward and advantage ending at his decease

RWStanding wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2017 6:49 am Natural evolution confers genetic advantage on populations that is inherited. It benefits social groups, or at least keeps them secure in their environment.

It doesn't, it isn't benevolent. Evolution is about populations going extinct...except very, very occasionally, a few freaks survive.

Capitalism in't the problem. The problem is the fallen human condition making it virtually impossible for capitalism to sustain its beneficial effects for society

Simone Weil wrote:

“Capitalism has brought about the emancipation of collective humanity with respect to nature. But this collective humanity has itself taken on with respect to the individual the oppressive function formerly exercised by nature.”

“The struggle between the opponents and defenders of capitalism is a struggle between innovators who do not know what innovation to make and conservatives who do not know what to conserve.”

As usual she gets it. Collective humanity has replaced nature in its daily oppressive function and society itself has made it so that we no longer understand what makes for innovations beneficial for human "being" and what to conserve.

“We have met the enemy and he is us.” Pogo

A very powerful enemy which will probably become victorious.