After all, both catagories of individuals are indoctrinated or susceptible to serving a purpose greater than themselves.

I am not clear about what "purposes beyond themselves" capitalists serve, and I think the discussion needs a clearer understanding of what is meant by either capitalists and religious extremists to progress very much.
Z

I was wondering if anyone agrees that both catagories of individuals have no independant philosophy but follow fashion and serve interests other than their own. Slaves to systems they do not even understand.

In relation to Capitalism, I can appreciate that this is a system of distribution, which to some extent ensures order and structure in society. The irony however becomes obvious when we regard financial success at the greatest of all successes and we look to unethical and ruthless businessmen as some type of role model. Businesses do nothing more than to make us progress within a technological (not moral) context. In my experience, the average person worships money and this has therefore made me conculde that capitalists are no different to very Religious people (serve no purpose in themselves, but serve a purpose to something greater than them).

This post has been edited by My Invisible Thoughts: Feb 3 2008, 11:35 AM

I'd have to agree with you. Many people make money their god.

I'd say trying to compare Religious Extremist to Capitalists is a bad comparison.

Religiouis Extremists to some Capitalists might make a better comparison.


Pretty much all Extremists of any sort could be considered a problem, but not all Capitalists.

Sure, the comparison that I was really trying to make was the mentality of very religious people, and capitalists who love money and the status of being a businessman.

I think the better way of putting it is to compare religious extremism not with capitalism, but with greed. Both illustrate that excesses can be unhealthy, and both are, in a way, compulsions. In the former case, it seems quite likely that these people submerge their own existence into something "higher, but in the case of greed, is it not their own selves they blindly serve?

Z

Wow, I'm not sure I've ever found a statement I've ever disagreed with more. Capitalism is about serving yourself. Also, there are many religious extremists who are self serving also. Not a good comparison

Well, if we are talking about Religious Extremists and Capitalist Extremists, then there probably are a lot of similarities just as there would be if we added fanatic/extremists of almost any endeavor to the comparison lists.

Take a look at Wikipedia - Extremism and you'll see what I mean.


The average religious person and the average capitalist most likely compare somewhat, too, but the comparison will be rather bland I suspect.

Some good answers.

Z, you said "In the former case, it seems quite likely that these people submerge their own existence into something "higher, but in the case of greed, is it not their own selves they blindly serve?"

I would say that in the case of greed, people submerge their own existance into something which lacks any true value or worth (materialistic possessions).

This post has been edited by My Invisible Thoughts: Feb 5 2008, 08:54 AM

Not that gets

We may be saying something similar. At the extreme, the self identifies itself exclusively with its possessions, as if to say "What I have is who I am." It may be partly a denial of selfhood and choice, partly a psychological need for existential permanence.
Z

A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself.
-Ferris Bueller

I think another good comparison is how the media and organised religion indoctrinate people. Capitalists and religious extremists have the need to manipulate and control.

This post has been edited by My Invisible Thoughts: Feb 23 2008, 05:30 AM

I disagree adamently. Business people are those that employ those that can Not start a business of their own and have nothing to sell except their labor. I have been both a business person and one of those that sell my labor and I can assure you that the ones that sell their labor have the lest amount of headaches. I did NOT worship money and still don't, that's a silly notion held by those that have no knowledge of the subject.