Profit motive is simply another name for the mechanism by which humans work to achieve goals or ends.
To say that the profit motive is merely greed is to assume that all ends or goals worth desiring or seeking to achieve are selfish. This in itself is alarming, as we all know that there are several goals which are worth achieving. But let's press the idea further.
If one decries the seeking of any end one finds valuable, then one is essentially decrying the value of the ends which were being sought. This too is alarming, as some goals are worth valuing. Let's take this one step farther.
In that case, one is saying that one should not value or desire anything at all. By this point, one is espousing is the fundamental principle of Buddhism: desire is the root of evil.
Well done Miss Erin. Another aspect of the profit motive is that the ambitious person only gets ahead if they provide something that someone else wants or needs. So, even the purely self-interested person is really not able to be purely self-interested. There is always another party that benefits from anyone's self-interest. I think. What say you?
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Max