Capitalism vs Altruism
Link to quote: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/quotes/?ref_=tt_trv_qu
In 2007 the movie "There will be Blood" was released. It is a movie like no other. It is loaded with messaging and sub plots. The film was written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and is somewhat based on the 1927 novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. The central theme deals with the consequences of unresticted free enterprise. The oil rush is used as the backdrop. The benefits of Adam Smith's hidden hand of self interest are completely ignored in this melodrama. It was after all, those greedy oil barrons that brought America into the twentieth century and produced much of the nation's wealth that helped set America apart.
The repesentative of Capitalism is Daniel Plainview played by Daniel Day-Lewis. We get to know a lot about this character in the opening scene, when Plainview breaks his leg in a mine shaft. (He also hit a Silver vein there) He is miles away from anyone who can help him, but he never gives up and literally drags himself to safety.
Aside from Plainview's competitive spirit (which Plainview goes through in detail with his false brother), is the ugly side of an alcoholic. Those familiar with the disease know what I'm talking about. The only people close to Plainview are his false brother (whom he deals with later) and his son (whom he disowns when his son wants to go out on his own.) The opposite of Plainview is the character played by Paul Dano (who played 2 parts, twin brothers.) In this case Eli Sunday, the local preacher, who represents altruism.
We do remember what Ayn Rand said about altruism: "Altruistic morality teaches that we must put the interests of others above our own and sacrifice our values and resources for the common good. Although such principles seem right to many, their confession is detrimental to both the individual and society as a whole."
“The man who attempts to live for others is a dependent. He is a parasite in motive and makes parasites of those he serves. The relationship produces nothing but mutual corruption..”
Ayn Rand
The philosophy of each of the two competitive men often clash and one might argue that both were destroyed in the end. The infamous final scene was filmed in the estatehouse of an oil barron.
It's not the Godfather of our time, it's far too dark. It's the kind of movie you think about.
Trivia:
"In an interview on the National Public Radio program "Fresh Air with Terry Gross," Paul Dano told Gross that he had originally been cast in the much smaller role of Paul Sunday, Eli's brother, and another actor had been cast as Eli. However, after Dano had already started filming his one scene as Paul Sunday, Paul Thomas Anderson decided to replace the actor playing Eli. Anderson then asked Dano to play Eli Sunday (a much bigger role) as well as Paul Sunday, and they decided to change the film to make the brothers identical twins. Anderson asked Dano to play Eli on a Thursday, and filming for the role began four days later, on the next Monday. Daniel Day-Lewis , by contrast, had a whole year to prepare to play Daniel Plainview."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/trivia/?ref_=tt_trv_trv
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Daniel Day-Lewis won Best Actor Academy Award for his role in There will be Blood .
What would Jesus say?
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Ayn Rand's proclamations are an opinion. Many others, to say the least, have the opposite opinion.
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I believe in capitalism because it does provide material advancement for the society. But it has to be regulated and controlled because human beings are fallen creatures that when left unfettered will exploit the least powerful for their own benefit.
Whatever happened to conservatives belief in "the common good'?
I have no idea. I know somebody you could ask, but he was driven out.
Whatever happened to conservatives belief in "the common good'?
They are alive & well.
Sometimes it's not just about regulation and control, but rather the nature of each. I'm thinking of infant formula which has many regulations and market controls yet left our least powerful unprotected this last summer.
Cronobacter sakazakii, the fast bacteria killed at least two babies, sickened four or maybe more since last year and the voluntary recall then left parents facing a shortage of formula.
There are a number of problems that need addressing:
Both these concepts can be summarized by one sage observation:
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Both sides of this debate regularly get corrupted by that basic flaw in mankind.