Assignment 08 Greed Is Good
Assignment 08: "GREED IS GOOD!"
Kant’s moral philosophy was the categorical imperative. As per Kant stated rules are rules, and commands are commands – unconditionally. Kant would have said that Gekko’s speech and ideologies were immoral. He would have said that greed was immoral as it was morally wrong intrinsically. As per Kant’s formula of universal law if the world population had to live with the maxim that “greed is good” the planet would soon run out of all its resources as everyone will be fighting to amass all the wealth and love there is to get hold of. It is not conceivable to state that greed is good in a world ruled by universal law. This would result in a perfect duty to refrain from acting on this. Excess money does not lead to happiness and the more money you have to more you want to earn more money. The economy would fall if people were going to live according to Gekko’s maxim. It is not rational to act on the “greed is good” maxim as it does not meet the requirements based on Step 2 and Step 3. The maxim does not meet the requirements of Universal Law.
Gekko’s speech would fit in with Nietzsche’s philosophy as it was driven by a desire to see human kind moving to higher and higher states of being. A quote from Gekko’s speech: “Greed, in all of its forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind.” Nietzsche’s viewed morality as a dead end in human development and I am of an opinion that he would agree with Gekko’s views about greed. Gekko’s views would have also resonated Ayn Rand’s philosophies as she believed that self-interest was morally good. Her three central virtues were rationality, productiveness and pride and these virtues centre on selfishness and greed. As per Rand “sustaining life, one’s own life in particular, is the original objective standard of value.” Not forgetting Adam Smith’s thinking about one’s own security, gains, interest and capitalistic views. I believe
Kant’s moral philosophy was the categorical imperative. As per Kant stated rules are rules, and commands are commands – unconditionally. Kant would have said that Gekko’s speech and ideologies were immoral. He would have said that greed was immoral as it was morally wrong intrinsically. As per Kant’s formula of universal law if the world population had to live with the maxim that “greed is good” the planet would soon run out of all its resources as everyone will be fighting to amass all the wealth and love there is to get hold of. It is not conceivable to state that greed is good in a world ruled by universal law. This would result in a perfect duty to refrain from acting on this. Excess money does not lead to happiness and the more money you have to more you want to earn more money. The economy would fall if people were going to live according to Gekko’s maxim. It is not rational to act on the “greed is good” maxim as it does not meet the requirements based on Step 2 and Step 3. The maxim does not meet the requirements of Universal Law.
Gekko’s speech would fit in with Nietzsche’s philosophy as it was driven by a desire to see human kind moving to higher and higher states of being. A quote from Gekko’s speech: “Greed, in all of its forms - greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind.” Nietzsche’s viewed morality as a dead end in human development and I am of an opinion that he would agree with Gekko’s views about greed. Gekko’s views would have also resonated Ayn Rand’s philosophies as she believed that self-interest was morally good. Her three central virtues were rationality, productiveness and pride and these virtues centre on selfishness and greed. As per Rand “sustaining life, one’s own life in particular, is the original objective standard of value.” Not forgetting Adam Smith’s thinking about one’s own security, gains, interest and capitalistic views. I believe