Is Greed Moral?

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algebe's picture
I know about the caste system

I know about the caste system. I studied Indian history at university back in the 70s. I just don't know why you thought I would have caste values. I'm not Indian, but I despise the caste system.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
You've never heard of a caste

You've never heard of a caste system before?

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
It reminds me of a concept of

It reminds me of a concept of,
This person has money so they deserve money,
and,
This person has nothing so they deserve nothing.

algebe's picture
@Jakquai: "This person has

@Jakquai: "This person has money so they deserve money, and, This person has nothing so they deserve nothing"

Who has that value? I certainly don't.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
If you knew what I meant by

If you knew what I meant by caste system then why ask? I didn't mean the exact Indian caste system that was used long ago. But the idea of a caste system of certain persons being valued more than others based on criteria. Why fuck around?

algebe's picture
@Jakquai: "If you knew what I

@Jakquai: "If you knew what I meant by caste system then why ask?"

I didn't ask about the meaning of a caste system, but rather why you thought I would have "caste values", whatever they are. I don't think I've posted any comments that suggest that. Try reading posts a little more carefully before rushing to your keyboard. As I said, I despise all caste systems.

The concept of caste is usually associated with India, but did you know Japan has also a caste system? There's a caste equivalent to the Dalit (untouchables) in India. They appear to be the descendants of people engaged in what were considered "unclean" occupations, such as meat workers, leather workers, undertakers, and executioners. They look exactly the same as other Japanese people, but everyone knows who they are. At one time they were marked by having the little finger removed from one hand. Today there are illegal directories that companies use to avoid hiring these people. Families also check prospective wives/husbands for their children to make sure they aren't untouchables.

They used to be called "Eta," but the government has tried to "improve" their situation by introducing official euphemisms, such as "newly enfranchised citizens." The most common name for them these days is "Burakumin," which literally means "Village People." Because they're shut out of mainstream economic life, a lot of the untouchables join organized crime gangs, know as "Yakuza." The Yakuza accumulate enormous wealth and exert great negative power in the Japanese economy and politics, so I guess it's a case of an evil system coming back to bite its proponents in the rear.

You could also argue that ethnic Koreans in Japan form a kind of caste. Many of them have been in Japan for several generations. They speak Japanese and have Japanese names. But like the untouchables, everyone knows who they are, so they are subject to various forms of discrimination.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
Should I start acting dumb

Should I start acting dumb about terms I don't know so I can jump on your exact definitions of shit???

xenoview's picture
Jakquai

Jakquai
It's okay to say you don't know. Just watch what you say to people and how you say it are you might turn into an ugly troll.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
Can a poor person who has

Can a poor person who has nothing be greedy?? YES YES!!!!

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
I myself think the question i

I myself think the question i asked quite simple....NO greed is not moral!!
Thank you very much!! I plan on hanging out on these forums to annoy you all for a very long time...or until I die!!

algebe's picture
Jakquai: "I plan on hanging

Jakquai: "I plan on hanging out on these forums to annoy you all for a very long time"

Good for you. If you really want to annoy people, I'd suggest doing a little homework first.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
You are so smart huh?

You are so smart huh?

algebe's picture
Jakquai: "You are so smart

Jakquai: "You are so smart huh?"

This is a community of skeptics and cynics. People here will argue with you about which way is up or down. If you put up an argument, others will dissect it, test it, and sometimes shoot holes in it. If you get into the spirit of it, you'll find it stimulating and educational. I certainly do.

xenoview's picture
When you annoy people watch

When you annoy people watch out that you don't become an ugly troll.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
@Algebe

@Algebe
I'm not an expert on caste systems as you seem to be, but my meaning was to project the idea of certain folks being valued as others.
And I don't wanna be annoying. How was the caste system in Japan by the way? You know a lot about that??

algebe's picture
Jakquai: Caste systems are

Jakquai: Caste systems are among the most evil things ever created by humanity. It's totally wrong that some people should be held down or shut out because of accidents of birth, such as color or gender. I think getting rid of religions will be a big step toward overcoming this kind of evil. What do you think?

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
I don't think its good for me

I don't think its good for me to be annoying by the way!!!

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
@xenoview

@xenoview

When you annoy people watch out that you don't become an ugly troll.

Ok...so someone might wanna put me in my place?

xenoview's picture
Just a friendly warning that

Just a friendly warning that trolling is against forum rules.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
I'm not on here for a battle

I'm not on here for a battle of intellects or to prove how smart I am. If someone on here is using that as their reason to live they can supersede me and I don't care. I just like to make folks think about things they probably don't even consider. Sad to say...it usually comes with back lash.

MysticCrusader's picture
You sound like a nihilistic

You sound like a nihilistic kook.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
Sorry about sounding like a

Sorry about sounding like a nihilist there. I did happen to go through a nihilistic phase in my life after I lost my religious beliefs. I now have an existentialist view of life.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
Perhaps after these comments

Perhaps after these comments I should reconsider!!!!!!!!!

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
Atheist friends...hahaha

Atheist friends...hahaha

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS

AT THE END OF ALL OF THIS
I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL GIVE AN OPINION OF WHETHER GREED IS MORALLY WRONG OR NOT!

AND I SAY GREED IS MORALLY WRONG.

It's okay if you don't wanna talk about it, make excuses, or act like most actions a person does couldn't cause misery for another. but that's ok. Even Atheist live in cognitive dissonance.

LogicFTW's picture
Hmm I think a few people here

Hmm I think a few people here gave their opinion, they just wanted to find out what you considered "greed" to be.

Taking "wealth" at the expense of others I think most would agree is wrong. Robbing someone is taking wealth at the expense of others. Simple stealing as well.

If a greedy person is someone who hoards "wealth" far beyond what the need for them selves, I do not personally think is morally wrong unless they did it at the negative expense of everyone else.

If someone bought a giant box with 10,000 of solar glasses a year in advance for 100 bucks, and then sold them the weekend before the eclipse at 10 dollars a piece, is that greed? Price gouging?

If someone figured out how to make batteries cost 1/2 as much to manufacture but are just as effective, obtained the patents and then sold them for only 10% less then the old batteries, reaping billions in profits is that person being greedy?

algebe's picture
@LogicforTW: "If a greedy

@LogicforTW: "If a greedy person is someone who hoards "wealth" far beyond what the need for them selves"

The only way to hoard wealth is to fill a silo with gold, like Scrooge McDuck. People who buy art or diamonds and lock them away in vaults are in that category. If you spend it, invest it, or put it in a bank, you're contributing to the economy and job creation by generating demand or providing capital.

Your example about batteries is really a win-win situation. The battery manufacturer gets bigger profits, and consumers get cheaper batteries. And since the battery manufacturer has more profit, they'll be able to invest in more improvements.

In the case of the solar glasses, the buyer is really trading in solar glasses futures. In exchange for a large potential profit, he's taking on the risk by giving the original supplier income in advance. The risk is that someone else might flood the market with cheaper products, making the investment worthless.

LogicFTW's picture
These are mostly my thoughts

These are mostly my thoughts as well, if perhaps better stated.

I find some people think some or all the examples to be quite immoral.

Kwahu Jakquai's picture
What is your thoughts on

What is your thoughts on these many wealthy television evangelist?

LogicFTW's picture
Scummy, greedy, capitalizing

Scummy, greedy, capitalizing on peoples gullibility especially in matters related to god/religion, so a small amount clever. But all around awful people.

To me the televangelist are not too much different then people that profit greatly off of the medical industry, Ceo's, drug company share holders etc, insurance industry, etc, (but not doctors usually.)

Same with people that profit off the prison/criminal justice industry.

In short these kind of people: greedy yes, but also a whole lot of other awful things.

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