Capitalism

            Today in Urban History and Theory we were discussing the transition from feudal cities to trading cities. There are many benefits to this transition but I was bothered because our teachers were failing to point out the large drawbacks. The feudal cities were simple but there was the caste system in place. It was nearly impossible for anyone to move up a class. A trading society is capitalistic where people have relatively equal chances of success, which is nice. One large downfall is that capitalism is a system based on competition where people are selfishly motivated. It is survival of the fittest with a bow on it. Correction, it is not survival of the fittest; we have graduated from competing for survival. Now we have chosen to compete for security and comfort. It could be called money for the fittest.   If you look at nature and if you view humans as merely sophisticated beasts than capitalism appears to be the perfect system.

But the reality is that we are not merely beasts but rather we are human. In one of my literature classes at Cal Poly we studied Humanism to some extent. We concluded that what makes us human is our ability to sacrifice for someone outside of our kin (I understand that this is debatable but it is compelling). Today’s Urban History lecture expanded upon my concept of what sets us apart from animals. Unlike animals we have the potential to escape the existing system powered by competition, which is incredible! It is unlikely, but it is possible. What if there was a society that was powered by love. It sounds totally idealist/ridiculous and I would argue that it would require some divine intervention. It also sounds socialist/communist, which has had horrendous outcomes in the past and present. I am not saying that we should abolish the existing competitive system, but the fact that we have the choice to, is in part what makes us human. It reminds me of the book/movie Into The Wild; that was a young man who disagreed with and refused to participate in the system. He rejected the security and comfort that comes with capitalism because it comes at too high a price.

One last point: It may appear that we have graduated from the system of survival of the fittest but even this is untrue. It has shifted from who is the fittest man to which country has the fittest military. I will say again, as humans we have the ability to reject competition and choose peace.