I was gonna include a third option about how money is easier to achieve without considering the morality of your actions but that’s not really a philosophy as much as it is an objective fact.
Corrupt people will do anything to further their aims, not corrupt people will stop if the most effective thing is immoral. This video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQlnmWCPgA ) is very on point for this question.
Money=power. Power corrupts. Absolute power, absolutely corrupts.
Money doesn’t equal power. They will have correlated retaltionships but correlation doesn’t equal causation. For instances where there is an initial absence of both, the introduction or money is more common to follow the person’s pursuit of power. Most people who weren’t born to generational wealth won’t achieve a wealthy enough accumulation until later in life and it well it may be hard to teach an old dog new tricks, it’s nothing compared to motivating some one who has reached a point of enought financial security to retire.
I would argue that there is a bidirectional casual relationship. Having more money gives you more power because you can directly spend that money to do things. More power means you can better influence people to give you their money.
Lol what are you fuckin 12? Power isn’t your mom telling you to clean your room. Get the fuck outta here with this bidirectional casual relationship shit 🤣 you can’t argue logical reasoning with made up shit🤣
What’s your definition of power then?
Yes.
Shit attracts flies
This is a very moral framing, maybe even a Christian-adjacent one, which I don’t think is helpful. Historical materialism, which other commenters are working from, is an amoral framing.
Speaking of morality & philosophy, here’s prof. Hans-Georg Moeller:
The Mode of Production determines what ideas and traits are more expressed among society. The Base determines the Superstructure, which in turn reinforces the Base.
Ok yes but this makes no sense to someone with zero background in marxist theory.
This is what is being referenced ^
This means that the values of a society are determined by the economic structure but also that these values then reinforce that structure. So you end up with societal values that closely allign with whatever best reinforces the base. In the case of capitalism that is typically greed. So no, money alone doesn’t corrupt people or make them greedy but the economic system that money facilitates does.
Correct me if I am wrong about anything 👍
Fantastic elaboration, comrade, that’s exactly what I am saying.
I grew up near an area where a large number high net worth people. For example as a kid I thought Lamborghini was a common car because I saw them all the time.
In my experience lots of money brings out your true self and let’s you act the way you want. So if you are inclined to be self centered and an asshole you can be a massive asshole. You can also be generous and kind.
Most rich people are pretty normal. However the normal ones do try to not make it known that they are rich. So you often don’t notice the normal rich people.
It’s also hard to tell the difference between a person who lives on a 200k a year income and a person with a double digit millions net worth.
I had a friend as a teen. I invited him to go diving with me as he had never been. He showed up with a 20k wetsuite.
I firmly believe greed comes from two thought processes: A sense of fear, or a desire for authority. I don’t know if wealth will make you a monster, but it will certainly show what you really are.
Yes. Most people stop making more when they have enough.
People who don’t stop are already broken and corrupted. They have nothing better to do. No better idea. No other desire. Than to accumulate more. It’s degenerate, sad, to keep wanting more, to feel that hunger when it is already satiated. Like a rat addicted to cocaine, still pushing itself to push the button for more and more.
Most people stop making more when they have enough.
I can’t think of a single person like that.
I keep joking that we should make video games mandatory for millionaires when this subject comes up but I legit think that playing some grindy game or management games would make this type of people less greedy to some degree, because at their core they appeal to our seemingly primal urge of always hoarding more resources.
Most things emerge from complex systems.
“A causes B” or “B causes A” sounds tidy, but obscures the reality.
Even in a complex system, though, if something doesn’t happen continuously it’s bound to have characteristic conditions that precede it. Describing it as cause and effect is a function of language, then.
Money magnifies who you are. I’m over the hump in wealth and I pay my people well, give to causes that matter to me, and follow my interests.
Inb4 somebody calls you a bourgeoisie parasite or something, since this is Lemmy.
At least on my behalf, thanks for commenting.
Has something to do with the emotions that one is subjected to upon receiving
Probably neither. As far as I can tell rich people are completely unremarkable. Some use their money for good, some for evil (and the media loves that) while most just buy tons of stupid shit and enjoy the good life.
I guess the media thing is the real answer. You don’t hear much about Bernard Arnault because he’s boring, while Musk is walking clickbait.
In this world, money is power, and power absolutely does corrupt people.
I’ve seen a lot a fair amount of people that started off with humble beginnings, got really popular, made a ton of money, and turned into shitbags as a result because they can just fork up a bunch of cash to make problems go away.
Money and power enables you to get away with immoral stuff, if not straight up illegal.
