In the 16 and 1700s, philosophy, political "science," and economics were trying to wrap their heads around a new way of being. Some brilliant work was going on in relation to trade, commerce, liberty, governance, etc. Still, it wasn't all perfect and it wasn't at all grounded in "Modernity." It should not be assumed that Locke, Smith, anyone, handed down an end all/be all guide to doing business and governance. Capitalism is a tool. Markets, government programs, most of the stuff people argue about are tools to be used in the service of decency and well-being within society.
I have a hard time trusting modern politicians to improve on structural economic or social systems we rely on, but the fact is a lot of those systems are badly in need of some rethinking. I mean, "healthcare" is just screwed. The stock markets are sort of a weird micro-manager that seems to make companies focus on next quarter instead of next decade. Henry Ford was really most famous (in my mind) not for the model T, or the assembly line, but for the idea of paying employees enough that they can buy the damned product they work to produce. Somebody once said something like, "What's good for GM is good for America." Well, we need that to be true again.
Anyway, just ponder on this notion: the systems now in place evolved to capitalize on a society and technologies that no longer exist; tradition is a grand thing, but blind adherence to the past is as stupid and dangerous as progress for progress's own sake. We're setting the groundwork for the 22nd century while still relying on 19th and 20th century social and economic modes of thinking. Somehow that seems like a good way to go the wrong way going forward.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.How a man thinks determines his actions. Those actions may be moderated by the three general structures; culture, religion or belief system, and law. But these aren't mechanical structures but behavioral ones shaped by instruction and experience as humans go from birth to death. The essential nature of capitalism is based on several behaviors, one of which is delayed gratification and another is cooperation. The free market system is really a behavioral system of interpersonal transactions of goods and services. I wish to sell something at my price, your wish to buy something at your price. When our wishes and prices align a transaction can occur. But add complexity to the free market in terms of interference use of laws and regulations and our free market becomes constricted.
Political science was the attempt to make a science out of human behavior in groups without understanding group behavior, a risky business at that. Since the brilliant minds had been trained to regard thinking from the top down, relying of an ultimate over arching authority, then forcing such theories down upon human behavior always failed. It's like trying to herd cats.If you base your thoughts and actions on false assumptions then you will always be in error. The assumption that one hides in a herd to avoid being eaten is false, one avoids standing out as the target for the predator. The predator scans the herd looking for the ones who stand out, not the ones who are hiding.
There are many false assumptions in political theories such as the noble savage who lives in perfection because he is untainted by modern life. If such a thing were true, why didn't we stay there? All of the social sciences are based, in part, on false assumptions. We must question and abandon as many false assumptions as possible if we wish to truly understand our human behaviors. Then we can build the knowledges we need to become better.
Marta-Amance
Level 7
Apr 18, 2019
0
A lot of our misconceptions are known but not widely disseminated. The blank slate is a good example to go along with the noble savage. It seems like in many cases we're doing the top down thing, trying to re-shape society so that society can then form up better individuals. We need to really think about what we've learned about human nature and adjust society toward a more realistic ambition.
A lot of these systems have already been revamped, and we have already largely changed course from the original conceptions of the original idea.
This rework of the economy isn't anything new The Great Awaking happened in the 1730s.
The arguement rarely is the improvement, but rather the overall haul due to a fundamental flaw which devolves into which flaw.
CodeNameZebra
Level 6
Apr 18, 2019
1
Yes, a lot of revamping has occurred, but also a lot of layered patches that just keep piling on. Seems like we could peel back some layers and try again at for new solutions that are aimed at the roots instead of the by-products.
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