I think you are off base. You are twisting things a bit to justify a preconception... which I don't think you've quantified.
Re: "Philosophies are truly defined not by practical application (i.e. their impact), but rather by their motives."
>>> Doubtful. They all CLAIM to have 'good motives'. Marx claimed that Communism was an 'inevitable' stage in the moral development of Man towards a brighter, more moral future. Claims are cheap, it's conduct and results that matter.
Re: "Communism is practically a washout due to its mismeasurment of man's nature."
>>> Er, yes and no. The earliest examples of Communalism (early Christian communities, the 'Walden' movements, etc.) claimed to believe in the 'perfectability' of man's nature... and that their's was a higher stage for the moral development of man and society. Unbounded self-interest ('jungle Capitalism') was defined as 'immoral' and corrupt.
>>> In the Age of Robber Barons there was evidence for this moral view, so we can safely say that there are both truths and lies in this view.
>>> You see, it is what results are delivered by a philosophy that ultimately judges it's 'morality'... not what it promises. They ALL promise that they are more moral than the next.
>>> Capitalism, in fact, takes a rather roundabout approach toward improving society and elevating the status of Man. It argues that 'enlightened self-interest' is the best, and most efficient and productive organizer of society.
>>> In the pursuit of self-interest, the 'invisible hand' assures the most efficient allocation of resources, and thus produces the best result.
>>> But Capitalism, per say, is an insufficient reed to clutch against the dangers of 'Statism'. Capitalism alone can remain very vigorous in the presence of Authoritarianism. They are not 100% mutually exclusive, as history has demonstrated.
>>> For that, other principles must be considered, such as individual Human Rights vs. State rights, and forms of governance such as Democracy which can vest enough power in people to resist the centralization of all political powers in a Central State. |
