Why Not Capitalism?

Jason Brennan

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781317907879
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Philosophie
• Subtopic: Geschichte & Theorie der Philosophie

Most economists believe capitalism is a compromise with selfish human nature. As Adam Smith put it, "It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest." Capitalism works better than socialism, according to this thinking, only because we are not kind and generous enough to make socialism work. If we were saints, we would be socialists.

In Why Not Capitalism?, Jason Brennan attacks this widely held belief, arguing that capitalism would remain the best system even if we were morally perfect. Even in an ideal world, private property and free markets would be the best way to promote mutual cooperation, social justice, harmony, and prosperity. Socialists seek to capture the moral high ground by showing that ideal socialism is morally superior to realistic capitalism. But, Brennan responds, ideal capitalism is superior to ideal socialism, and so capitalism beats socialism at every level.

Clearly, engagingly, and at times provocatively written, Why Not Capitalism? will cause readers of all political persuasions to re-evaluate where they stand vis-à-vis economic priorities and systems—as they exist now and as they might be improved in the future.

Index

Al-Ubaydli, Omar 67

anarchism 30, 33–5 42–44, 75, 95

beneficence 33–4, 37, 44, 54

Buchanan, James 61

calculation problem see knowledge problem of socialism

Cambodia 4, 40, 64

camping trip argument for socialism 7–16, 17–18, 20, 22, 53, 55, 56–8, 60, 62, 64–5, 75

can’t or won’t 52–57

capitalism: as cooperative 25, 30, 33, 36–42, 49–51, 62, 67, 75, 89–91; definition of 63–64; economic superiority of to socialism vi, 5, 13–16, 19, 21, 47; as encouraging trustworthiness 65–9; as evil 3; historical performance of 3–4; moral principles of 29–35; moral superiority of to socialism 22–46, 78–99; not essentially greedy or fearful, 64; as predatory 16; and selfishness 2–3, 5, 64; utopian 24–25, 29–35, 72–4; and vice 5;

Capitalism: A Love Story3–4

Carens, Joseph 16, 101–2n33

central planning 26, 92

charity 34, 43, 53–4

civic virtue 32–33

civil society 33, 92–3

Clarabelle Cow 24, 28, 41, 34, 80; as capitalist retailer, 24, 34, 80

coercion, 33

Cohen, G. A. 6, 8–13, 15–23, 46–50, 52–65, 68–75, 87, 98;...