Capitalism And Human Values (societas) [Paperback]

Capitalism is not enough.

It has brought us prosperity and no other economic system can match its energy and innovation, but it has a dark side of exploitation and instability.

Capitalism needs to be bounded by values. But which values? What indeed are values anyway and how do we locate and share values strong enough to balance the power of capitalism in society? Relativism has swept away old certainties and we struggle to agree what should lie at the centre of our lives.

In this book we construct a foundation for values based on our common humanity and explore personal, social and political values from a fresh perspective.

We show how with values placed on a strong foundation individual lives can reacquire meaning and purpose. Politics can be transformed from the half-corrupted subject of popular indifference it has become. Above all, capitalism can be a tool for good, a servant rather than a master.

'Now here's a book simply packed with pertinent and perhaps valuable information; the likes of which one doesnt stumble upon everyday&Capitalism and Human Valuesis a brilliantly conceived and well written book, which loiters at the very epicentre of current-day, economic turmoil.'

Wilkinson delves deep into the basis of our values, distinguishing them from laws and rights (including moral and human) and looks at the theory that values are simply based on individual preferences. I found this part of the book the most challenging, but ultimately rewarding. Firmer ground appeared for me when we looked at a foundation for values, building up from our central goal and the conditions which help to test any proposed central goal and culminating in the concept of achieving 'satisfied mind' and the skills which we would require to do so. To me this part was gold dust with clearlƒf