• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Interesting read on what Einstein thought of capitalism

W

WithHonor

Junior Member
Why socialism?

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career. "

"The economic anarchy of capitalist society as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of the evil. "
Take note that this was written in 1949.

After doing some research on Adolf Hitler link, and then reading this, it seems there's a similiarity between their two views on the ideal economic system.

What are your thoughts???????
 


<< i love america, and whoever doesnt can go to hell. >>


No wonder why everyone loves us so much!
rolleye.gif


I think for a society to survive, a mix of different economic and political ideas and theories need to be used.
 
Einstein was an expert in advanced physics, not economic policy.

If I wanted to build an atom-smasher, I'd consult with Einstein.

If I wanted to know how to balance my checkbook, I'd talk to Alan Greenspan.
 
Socialism is the best economy on paper and the worst economy when implemented. Human nature won't allow for a socialist society.
Oh well, I'm 100% capitalist anyway! 😀
 
Its funny how you people get into a defensive stance, instead of using your intellectual curiosity (if there is any) to evaluate this other system.
 
Best of both worlds is what I support. Government runs some and the people run some. A pure system of either kind would be awful.
 


<< Its funny how you people get into a defensive stance, instead of using your intellectual curiosity (if there is any) to evaluate this other system. >>



It's funny how your first post was trolling for flames, and when you didn't get any, you up the ante.
 
I actually have looked at socialism in depth. I've read Marx's manifesto, most of Das Kapital, and some of Engels' stuff.

Two obersvations spring to mind:
1) marx couldn't write for crap
2) the theory of a communist revolution makes no sense. In the sense in which Marx intended it, there are no socialist states. there never will be any socialist states. There will never be a revolutionary elite. There will never be a proletarian revolution. It just doesn't make sense.

Furthermore, human nature is to bend stuff around him (gender-neutral) to his advantage. Marx supposes that this is the result of inequalities in society. Well it's not. Look at a baby; first thing he does is to make his world better suited to help himself. (all 'he' is g-n of course).

Furthermore, physicists think that knowing math and physics allows them some great insight into the way in which the world works. I'm thinking of Carl Sagan, Einstein, Murray Gell-Mann, (sp) Hawking. The notable exception is Feynman, thank god. I don't ask Thomas Pynchon or George Will or Alan Greenspan or Michael Jordan or any number of political theorists how to do physics since that's now what they do. The physicists can shut their collective yap about everything but physics. To be fair, I shouldn't be too critical since everybody is an armchair political theorist, and it just so happens people allow physicists a soapbox from which they can lecture. I say to hell with them.

Churchill said something to the effect of "democracy is the worst form of goverment, except for all the others." Same goes for capitalism/economics IMHO.

edit: typo
 


<< "This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career. " >>

It is quite common for your genius types to be very strange people, bordering on madness. The euphamism is "eccentric", but what that really means is that you're weird. Einstein had a few far-flung and flat wrong opinions on certain issues, this being one of his more flagrantly false ones.

Capitalism is an ECONOMIC system, nothing more. It isn't a form of government, it isn't an educational philosophy, it isn't sociology or culture, it isn't a religion. In his statement, Einstein puts his cart before the horse, in a manner of speaking.

Capitalism doesn't cause people to 'worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career', Capitalism exists because people - generally speaking - are already inclined to 'worship acquisitive success as a preparation for their future career'.

We have Capitalism because the other systems suck.
 
Einstein also believed in a God of sorts. How does that sit with you? 😉

"This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career. "

I haven't read your link, but assuming this is true, so what? If that's the WORST of Capitalism, SO WHAT? And like tcsenter said, "Capitalism is an ECONOMIC system, nothing more." There is no utopia. All other 'systems' are going to have pitfalls and it seems 'Capitalism' is the best of all, so far...

The more a country leans toward Socialism/Communism, the worse their economy is. Makes sense to me to head in the opposite direction. What? Too logical? 😛
 


<< i love america, and whoever doesnt can go to hell. >>



*Deep sigh, sarcastic waving of a flag.*



<< Ummm... Who gives a sh|t about what Einstein thought about capitalism? He's not known for his theories on Economics. >>



Oh I dunno, maybe because he was a genius? One of the most brilliant minds of all time? Now if somebody said "who cares what Will Smith thinks about economics", I could kind of understand it. But y'know...
 


<< Oh I dunno, maybe because he was a genius? One of the most brilliant minds of all time? Now if somebody said "who cares what Will Smith thinks about economics", I could kind of understand it. But y'know... >>



He was good at math Will Smith is good at acting Muhammad Ali was good at boxing but I wouldn't go to any of them for economic advice. 🙂
 
<<Oh I dunno, maybe because he was a genius? One of the most brilliant minds of all time? Now if somebody said "who cares what Will Smith thinks about economics", I could kind of understand it. But y'know...>>

Unfortunately, genius in one area (Physics) does not in any way translate into genius in another area (Economics). A Physicist's views on Economics are about as useful as an Actor's views on Politics, excellence in one area is not indicative of excellence in other areas.

Novgrod summed things up very well.

ZV
 
Even Einstein's Theory of Relativity, for which he is best known, is being found as basically flawed. Why would I want to take economical advice from a man who couldn't tie his own shoes without help? Yes, he was brilliant, but he was also a fallible (sp) human being. His OPINIONS of topics not in his realm of expertise are just that, opinions. They are worth no more than mine or yours.
 
The fact still remains that Einstein knew jack fscking sh|t about Economics. Unless you can prove otherwise, with some sort of long lost Econ. PhD that Einstein supposedly had...

If you took a poll of the nation's most brilliant professors and scientists, I would bet that 99% of them are socialists. A socialist economy would benefit them more, because it would fsck everyone else over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top