Is Capitalism Structurally Amoral?
Would I say that Capitalism is structurally amoral? I do not know. It depends on what is meant by Capitalism. I treat voluntary exchange relations as good from the point of view of the individuals in the exchange. For them the trade was good. For them an obstacle to that exchange would be bad. This treatment is amoral in that it does not interrogate as to the nature of the good or service exchanged. I buy an apple for less than my full willingness to pay, I am happy. The grocer sells for more than her reservation price, she is pleased. A random stranger propositions me with some money to perform personal favors for them. So long as we are both made better off in our own estimation the transaction is treated by good as each of us, and the economist does not impose a normative judgment on those actions. A price floor on apples that requires all apples to be sold for $2.50 a lb, including the falsely named Red Delicious, could result in fewer consummated voluntary exchanges. Some seller...