Philosophically, the motive force for capitalism is progress (in my opinion) and specifically the creative impulse.
Profit is powerful motivator, no doubt, but it is a secondary one.
The whole strategic and philosophical error in thinking about capitalism has arisen from this point.
Capitalism is a creative process:
- It is about being productive and innovative.
- It is about the human genius and the world of ideas.
- out being productive and innovative.
- It is about modernisation.
- It is about social and ethical progress.
- It is about science and technology too.
- It is about the creativity of the employee, manager and employer.
- It is about women and men bringing similarities and differences to the workplace and the marketplace.
- It is about the global vision and the planet.
- It is about diversity of the human race.
- It is about meeting the consumer needs.
- It is about the individual.
- It is about progress in cultural expression too.
- It is about creative arts and entertainment too.
- It is about communications.
- It is about modernising religion.
- It is about caring.
- It is about welfare systems provided by the public good through collective forms of wealth-sharing (e.g. taxation).
- It is about infrastructure.
Progress is at the heart of capitalism.
That is why it has succeeded against Marxism - despite the onslaught from its rhetoric and totalitarian materialist thinking focused on narrow money considerations. A partial philosophy has come unstuck against the drivers of history.
A new strategic analysis factoring in progress and the creative impulse is needed to revive capitalism in the West and bring out its best.
It is also a tool for understanding the capitalist take-offs in different countries (so-called emerging economies) including the developing world. The urgent need for progress is felt in these countries and the creative impulse is very powerful. The profit motive plays a secondary powerful motive force too.
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