Question

Do you think “Greed is Good”? Can a free market economic system survive without human greed?

Answer 1

Greed in excess is never good, and we see a clear example through examining our world history. However, desire is a good thing. It keeps us on our toes, enables us to set higher goals, achieves better feats, and, therefore, grow.

I do think that “greed is good,” specifically for the structure of our societies to function correctly.

2. I do not think that an economic system would survive without human greed. If every individual had access to the same resources, equal quantities, the same exposure, and the same commitment, the society would stop trying to keep itself functional. We can compare our situation to a wheel where the wheel is the society, and the cogs that make it are its people. Sure, if one or two gears were to give out, the machine could still function, but if almost every part of it were gone, there would be nothing left to further it, creating stagnation, which is never suitable for evolution or sustenance. The economic system works because of the give and takes relationship of its people, and if greed were to get out of the equation, we could just as quickly be going in circles instead of going forward.