Greed.

[mix]

Is it good or bad?

Can it be harnessed for socially beneficial ends? Or should it be discouraged entirely?

Matt Yglesias, The Ethics of Homo Economicus
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/04/the_ethics_of_homo_economicus.php

"But the fact still remains that greedy behavior is not admirable behavior and that...it’s very unlikely that the “best” young people were going into finance. And to say that they’re not necessarily good people need not entail that they’re criminals. Simply the fact that the best people are people who aren’t primarily driven by greed."

[NOW tense]

1. Bad n/t

[mix]

7. considering the jump in poverty since 1980

the age of greed starting with raygun has been a social and humanitarian failure...have there been benefits?

[ananda]

2. Radix malorum est cupiditas.

Greed is the root of all evil.


From the pardoner in the Canterbury Tales..
ironically spoken of course.

[stillcool]

3. One of the seven deadly sins..

how bad can it be?

[Mari333]

4. slothfulness is more fun. nt

[mix]

5. +1

definitely

[barbtries]

6. IMO,

greed will destroy the human race if it cannot be tempered with love and compassion.