I’m trying to write a text about the benefits that capitalism provides that are beyond materialism and wealth. Does anyone have some ideas?
I wrote something a year ago (in another thread, see below), could anybody help me finding and elaborating other points?
My fist point:
Ad1) self-efficacy vs. helplessness, meaningless
There is a construct called “learned helplessness” (created by Martin Seligman, a pioneer of positive psychology) that regards to the phenomenon that being unable to or feeling to be unable to change your life or the circumstances in which you are is correlated with depression.
What’s true for the inner (mental) conditions of a human is true for its environment too – in both cases it makes one happy, it makes you feel well, if you are able to control things around you. And it tears you down, if you find yourself in situations that inhibit your possibility to take influence (even if your material/financial basis is acceptable). That’s why an ideal society cannot exist without market economy.
In Europe one gets welfare, nearly 1000 USD (800EUR) a month, if he is workless. You will earn a bit more than 1000 USD if you are employed in the non-academic field. This circumstance:
- It makes no difference if you work or work not,
- whatever you do, it doesn’t influence your situation
makes people sick.
I think we have to overcome the socialistic-egalitarian ideology that claims:
We all are equal, we all should have the same -> that makes the scociety happy…
…and should emphasize instead:
We all are individuals. We all are different. We all should have the same chances but within a system that allows to reap the full reward of a persons own decisions and actions -> this will make people lucky and the society great.
Further Cues: Capitalism provides/enables
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self-actualization
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career experiences, to make a career, getting promoted, are great experiences
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diversity of products and companies, individuality: trademarks are expressions of people’s identity
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capitalism motivates people,… give your best, engagement
If you have some thoughts on these or other points - please post it.