Kapitalismi, marxismi ja neohumanistinen taloustiede

Capitalism, Marxism and Neo-Humanist Economics

The essential link between neo-humanism and economics is that neo-humanism provides an ethical framework and value system within which all economic activity can be directly related to human welfare. The major schools of economic thought, whether capitalist or Marxist, are based upon materialist values and vested interests, which prevent them actuating the fullest possibilities of human welfare.

Neo-humanism advances a new value system based on the principle of social equality, rather than self-interest, and gives a new perspective on the integration of theories of social and spiritual liberation. Under the influence of neo-humanism, economics become a means of liberation from material problems rather than a tool of exploitation and enslavement.

The science of economics is over 200 years old and it first developed as a theoretical justification for capitalism. Its major branches have either explicitly supported or opposed capitalist values, exemplified by classical and neo-classical schools of economic thought and Marxism respectively. Smith, the father of modern economics, published “Wealth of Nations” in 1776 and argued that human conduct is actuated by six motives – self-love, sympathy, the desire to be free, sense of propriety, a habit of labor, and the propensity to barter and exchange one thing for another. Each person is the best judge of their own interests and should be left free to pursue their interests in their own way. If people are left to themselves they will not only attain their objectives, but they will also further the common good. This result is assured because providence has made society into a system in which the natural order prevails. The different natures of human conduct are so carefully balanced that the benefit of one does not conflict with the good of all. Thus Smith considered that in pursuing their own interests each individual was “led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was not part of their intention.” In this way the individual promoted the interests of society more effectively than if they had consciously set out to do so. In essence Smith believed that that public good arises out of acquisitiveness, individualism and self-interest. The work of Smith and later classical economists like Ricardo and Malthus provided the first theoretical foundation for capitalism, and the philosophical justification for policies like opposition to all forms of state intervention in business and commerce, support for colonialism and later imperialism and strong advocation for laissez-faire economics.