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Capitalism Versus Socialism: An Analytical Perspective

N. Scott Arnold

in The Philosophy and Economics of Market Socialism: A Critical Study

This chapter begins by giving a definition of the terms capitalist economic system and socialist economic system. The former is defined using the concept of a free enterprise system, a system where ... More

This chapter begins by giving a definition of the terms capitalist economic system and socialist economic system. The former is defined using the concept of a free enterprise system, a system where most of the means of production are privately owned and where people are free to sell their labor in the market. The latter is harder to construct but in identifying the most common denominators among socialist systems, this chapter comes out with a system that prohibits most private ownership of the means of production and which mandates social control of the same. Dispute arises as to which system most approximates the concept of a good society. However, the complete theory of the good society is something which is rare to find and thus leads to issues in the criticism and defense of both economic systems. This chapter lays down the philosophical framework underlying the debate between capitalism and socialism.Less

Moral‐Aesthetic Judgments of Artifacts

Yuriko Saito

in Everyday Aesthetics

Our aesthetic judgments in everyday life are often intertwined with moral judgments, such as personal appearance, condition of one's possessions, and environmental eyesores. We also make ... More

Our aesthetic judgments in everyday life are often intertwined with moral judgments, such as personal appearance, condition of one's possessions, and environmental eyesores. We also make moral-aesthetic judgments on artifacts by considering how user-friendly artifacts and environments respond to the specific needs of the intended users with care, respect, and consideration through their sensuous surface and design features. Less obvious are the designed objects and environments that enrich the content of the users' experiences through sensitivity to their bodily engagement and the temporal dimension of the experience, typically embodied in green buildings, as well as gardens, the tea ceremony, food serving, and packaging in the Japanese tradition. These aesthetic manifestations of moral values indicate the significance of the aesthetic in everyday life in promoting a good life, and how sensitively and caringly designed environments and artifacts must be an essential ingredient of a good society.Less

Democracy: Wellspring of the Good Society

James ƠToole

in The Executive's Compass: Business and the Good Society

This chapter discusses the trade-offs necessary between the four ideas discussed in the previous chapters: liberty, equality, efficiency, and community. Of particular importance are the liberty ... More

This chapter discusses the trade-offs necessary between the four ideas discussed in the previous chapters: liberty, equality, efficiency, and community. Of particular importance are the liberty versus equality trade-off and the community versus efficiency trade-off. The chapter discusses the balance of power and the attempt to reconcile these conflicting values. The chapter cites democracy as one process that can reconcile such values in The Good Society. It discusses the three main principles of democratic justice: voice, power, and respect. However, the chapter also explains that democratization remains incomplete due to the people not actively practicing it. The chapter also explores the idea of plebiscitary democracy compared to direct democracy and the effects it may have on the people.Less

Why We Disagree

James ƠToole

in The Executive's Compass: Business and the Good Society

This chapter opens with the problem of how, with the advent of modern democracy, no executive decision ever satisfies everyone. It also discusses the concept of the good society as one that is ... More

This chapter opens with the problem of how, with the advent of modern democracy, no executive decision ever satisfies everyone. It also discusses the concept of the good society as one that is abstract and subjective, being defined in terms of justice. Essentially, a good society is a just society because the rights of every citizen are secured. The chapter also states how philosophers have defined the good or just society and the different permutations and variations of such definitions, even amounting to stark disagreements. It also discusses collective dreams or awake dreams as part of national character. These dreams are Liberty, Equality, Efficiency, and Community, making up the four “great themes of political argument”. The purpose of this book is to overcome the value conflicts resulting from different people having different dreams.Less

Introduction

Fred Dallmayr

in In Search of the Good Life: A Pedogogy for Troubled Times

This chapter discusses an alternative conception that is traceable to Athens and Jerusalem and which stands in stark opposition to the modern glorification of sovereign power, totalizing ideologies, ... More

This chapter discusses an alternative conception that is traceable to Athens and Jerusalem and which stands in stark opposition to the modern glorification of sovereign power, totalizing ideologies, and abstract procedures. It introduces Walter Lippmann, the author of The Good Society and pursues his argument in greater detail to see precisely how he wanted to obviate modern ills. It looks at a more recent reformulation of the idea of a “good society” and finally explores the implications of these initiatives in the present era.Less

Other Options for Market Socialism?

N. Scott Arnold

in The Philosophy and Economics of Market Socialism: A Critical Study

The problem posed by this chapter is whether or not there are other market socialist systems that do not face the difficulties found in the last two chapters. The first suggestion of the chapter is ... More

The problem posed by this chapter is whether or not there are other market socialist systems that do not face the difficulties found in the last two chapters. The first suggestion of the chapter is to explore the possibilities of changes of equity ownership in the market socialist system. The suggestion stems from the fact that one of the most serious weaknesses of the worker control-state ownership model is that the capital provider is not the ultimate decision-making authority and residual claimant. By contrast, one of the salient advantages of the characteristic organizations of a free enterprise system is that its functions are all joined. In other words, the latter organizations, unlike the organizations in the worker control-state ownership model, have equity owners. Thus, in the classical capitalist firm and the open corporation, those who are ultimate decision makers and residual claimants cannot exploit the primary providers of capital because they are the primary providers of capital. Other forms of ownership in the market socialist economy are also suggested. Finally this chapter goes back to the socialist vision of a good society. While the socialist system is able to eliminate alienation in the workplace, this is not enough to compensate for its failure as an alternative to capitalism. This chapter sees a defeat of socialism and a limited victory for capitalism.Less

Exploitation in a Market Socialist Economy II

N. Scott Arnold

in The Philosophy and Economics of Market Socialism: A Critical Study

This chapter discusses the opportunities for exploitation in a large cooperative setting. Ideally, other than in terms of sheer size, the differences between large cooperatives and smaller ... More

This chapter discusses the opportunities for exploitation in a large cooperative setting. Ideally, other than in terms of sheer size, the differences between large cooperatives and smaller cooperatives do not appear to be that great. Indeed, in principle, smaller cooperatives could also have a workers' council. Though the two types of cooperatives are similar in many respects, the comparable capitalist organization, the open corporation, is dramatically different from its smaller cousin, the classical capitalist firm. Following the comparison, this chapter identifies various areas where exploitation may occur in the large cooperative setting. Such areas include the firm-market boundary, state organizations, state control of new investment, and in the valuation of assets. Following the discussion on exploitation, this chapter surmises that due to the presence of exploitation, a form of injustice, in the market socialist economy, the system might not be the most conducive system towards a good society.Less

The Moral Order

Mike Berry

in The Affluent Society Revisited

This chapter reflects on the overarching ethical stance implicit in The Affluent Society, and further developed in Galbraith’s last book, The Good Society. His position is compared to the theory of ... More

This chapter reflects on the overarching ethical stance implicit in The Affluent Society, and further developed in Galbraith’s last book, The Good Society. His position is compared to the theory of social justice put forward by Amartya Sen and contrasted to that of John Rawls. Galbraith’s aim, as always, was to analyze modern capitalism in the attempt to improve it, a project that required a pragmatic grasp of both the political and ethical dimensions of life in ways that were noticeably absent from orthodox economics but which allowed the latter to dismiss him as ‘unscientific’. The moral challenges that Galbraith posed still resonate in the public policy context, especially as policymakers strive to avoid repetition of the mistakes that led the world to the bring of another Great Depression.Less

Moral Cultivation, Filial Piety, and the Good Society in Classical Confucian Philosophy

Erin M. Cline

in Families of Virtue: Confucian and Western Views on Childhood Development

This chapter serves as an introduction into the early Confucian notions about parent–child relationships, early childhood, and moral cultivation. It examines the close relationship between these ... More

This chapter serves as an introduction into the early Confucian notions about parent–child relationships, early childhood, and moral cultivation. It examines the close relationship between these three and the task of creating and maintaining a good society as it is presented in the best-known early Confucian texts—the Analects, the Mengzi, and the Xunzi. These texts not only emphasize the importance of moral cultivation, the unique role of parent–child relationships, and the importance of filial piety, but also the clear and direct relationship between the family and a good society. Through the analysis of the texts, the chapter also presents the different and unique insights of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi regarding the relationship between the family, moral education, and political philosophy.Less

Policy and ‘the good society’

David Phillips

in Policy reconsidered: Meanings, politics and practices

Over the past decades, there has been a fierce debate among politicians and policy makers about what constitutes ‘the good society’. Among the visions of the so-called good society include: an ... More

Over the past decades, there has been a fierce debate among politicians and policy makers about what constitutes ‘the good society’. Among the visions of the so-called good society include: an all-encompassing universalist and collectivist welfare state and a minimalist state providing a safe social environment where families and individuals can freely pursue their interests. This chapter explores the manner in which policy is used to represent visions of ‘the good society’ and how this usage travels in the national and supranational arenas and the extent to which visions can become reality. From the perspective of the process of EU enlargement, the chapter views the relations between policies and values. It presents policy as a representation of a vision and as an expression of the fundamental aspirations of collectivities. It also raises key matters of competition and dialogue and the elements of policy that are increasingly becoming important in the globalising world.Less

Dwelling in the Way: (Chu dao 處道)

in Shizi: China's First Syncretist

This chapter focuses on the ruler “dwelling in the Way” by setting a good example for his people. It almost goes without saying that a good ruler will “dwell in the Way,” but the central theme of ... More

This chapter focuses on the ruler “dwelling in the Way” by setting a good example for his people. It almost goes without saying that a good ruler will “dwell in the Way,” but the central theme of this chapter is the malleability of the people's characters and their willingness to emulate a leader. Little or no responsibility for making an ordered society is given to the people themselves. Rather, they are described as passive—but willing—subjects that a good ruler will inspire. Thus, “dwelling in the Way” is “(causing the people to) dwell in the Way” as well. This chapter also considers the selflessness of virtue and the very little work involved for the virtuous ruler and asserts that those who can and want to learn vastly outnumber those who cannot or do not. Finally, it argues that a good society is possible with an orderly ruler and patience. The counter-examples of blind, deaf, and unteachable people are adduced to show that “the exception proves the rule”.Less

Infants, Children, and Early Confucian Moral Cultivation

Erin M. Cline

in Families of Virtue: Confucian and Western Views on Childhood Development

This chapter delves deeper into what early Confucian thinkers have to say about moral cultivation during childhood, especially in the earliest years of a child's life and youth. It presents three ... More

This chapter delves deeper into what early Confucian thinkers have to say about moral cultivation during childhood, especially in the earliest years of a child's life and youth. It presents three primary questions: First, to what extent is childhood moral cultivation an important part of the views of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi? Second, are the early years of a child's life viewed as a unique and irreplaceable opportunity for moral cultivation in early Confucianism? The third and final question is how childhood moral cultivation is related to the task of creating a good society. The chapter returns to the three seminal texts—the Analects, the Mengzi, and the Xunzi—and argues that they neglected insights on early moral cultivation. Through further analysis, the three texts suggest that the early Confucians say little about the topic and believe that early childhood is not an important time for ethical conditioning.Less

Realizing American Ethics

Albert Borgmann

in Real American Ethics: Taking Responsibility for Our Country

This chapter argues that in order to discover the common and compelling vision of the good life and the good society that has beckoned and eluded us, we need to realize what ethics demands of us, in ... More

This chapter argues that in order to discover the common and compelling vision of the good life and the good society that has beckoned and eluded us, we need to realize what ethics demands of us, in both senses of realizing—we have yet to recognize the need for it, and unsurprisingly, we still have to give it a commanding and tangible shape. Like Jefferson, we should center our lives in our homes, among family, friends, and neighbors. Once we have gathered at the dinner table, wisdom and friendship can be ours, and they in turn can give us the courage to join with our neighbors in the design of a public realm that encourages celebration. Perhaps we can draw from common celebrations the generosity and resourcefulness to meet our obligations of justice and stewardship. Thus, the United States may become the country of grace that the people who came here have searched for and worked for.Less