Posted on 02/19/2009 10:01:40 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
What kind of society do we want? "Let the free market decide!" is the often-heard response. That response, a prominent capitalist argues,undermines the very values on which open and democratic societies depend.
IN The Philosophy of History, Hegel discerned a disturbing historical pattern -- the crack and fall of civilizations owing to a morbid intensification of their own first principles. Although I have made a fortune in the financial markets, I now fear that the untrammeled intensification of laissez-faire capitalism and the spread of market values into all areas of life is endangering our open and democratic society. The main enemy of the open society, I believe, is no longer the communist but the capitalist threat.
The term "open society" was coined by Henri Bergson, in his book The Two Sources of Morality and Religion (1932), and given greater currency by the Austrian philosopher Karl Popper, in his book The Open Society and Its Enemies (1945). Popper showed that totalitarian ideologies like communism and Nazism have a common element: they claim to be in possession of the ultimate truth. Since the ultimate truth is beyond the reach of humankind, these ideologies have to resort to oppression in order to impose their vision on society. Popper juxtaposed with these totalitarian ideologies another view of society, which recognizes that nobody has a monopoly on the truth; different people have different views and different interests, and there is a need for institutions that allow them to live together in peace. These institutions protect the rights of citizens and ensure freedom of choice and freedom of speech. Popper called this form of social organization the "open society." Totalitarian ideologies were its enemies.
(Excerpt) Read more at mtholyoke.edu ...
Traitorous bustard from hell.
But I am not finding it as yet....
Stimulus Should: Reward People Who CARRY the Water instead of Those Who DRINK the Water! (CNBC rant)
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The huge outrage is that this tool was EVER granted American citizenship. He has worked since then to destroy our country. He is hypocritical to the utmost degree. If capitalism is so bad, let’s take away all his money and give him “according to his need.” His motto should be “Capitalism for me but not for thee.”
Rep. Kanjorski: $550 Billion Disappeared in "Electronic Run On the Banks" ( Sept 15,2008)
Doesn't answer where the money went....
Thanks.
And he is the head banker for the Democrat party -- which is chock full of dangerous, egotistical, hypocritical jerks.
May I remind everyone that George Soros was a student of Fabian socialism at the London School of Economics in 1949.
Careful guys,.,,,getting close to the line.
I just read the whole thing. I think the problem he has, as with most materialists, is he confuses an economic system, that is laissez-faire capitalism, with the real moral/political system that produced and oversees it, namely ethically Christian representative democracy.
Hence Soros sees a valueless (and heartless) social Darwinist capitalism as the opposite pole of a strict-government-forced-values totalitarianisms—and therefore a kind, cooperative “open society” as the happy mean between.
Soros’ analysis is quite interesting actually—from 11+ years ago—in that he ignores or minimizes religion as an important factor, and a key element in how “cooperative” (his words)(that would be “caring”) a society can be, even while being competitive in economics.
As far as “fallibility” being the standard for an “open society” he’s partly right...as Christian ethics have always maintained everyone is a sinner, and flawed in our understanding and practice of ethics—hence the huge number of checks and balances in the American system of governance. However, the idea that everyone must just limp-wristedly admit we cannot know right from wrong...as the organizing basis of society, is a recipe for madness and anarchy, IMHO.
I thought he studied with Karl Popper there?
Admin. please delete. Thnx.
INTREP
After reading the whole article, I was exhausted from all the slogging thru fundamental misconceptions.
Soros simply does not recognize the role of religion -- and its impact on ethics and morality. Whether it's Judeo-Christian capitalism...or Buddhist capitalism...or Hindu capitalism...or Shinto capitalism, etc....it is the religion that is expected to inform our morality and ethics. Not the economic system.
Capitalism, by itself, is only an economic system -- which happens to be the most efficient means of organizing an economy for the betterment of all. Which, when you stop and think about it, is a pretty moral outcome...
Soros is a capitalist giant. And a moral midget. He has no business projecting himself on the rest of us.
George Soros: the man that makes Bernie Madoff look like a common shoplifter.
Zer0’s puppet master.
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