The Iron Cage and Unbridled Capitalism

From the early philosophers to the development of Sociology, an abundance has been written on how national economies affect society.  In America, we have an established capitalistic economy that has grown into an unbridled menace, leaving a huge gap in the wealth of our citizens.

German Sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) opposed Marxist theories, and believed it was the moral values of workers that would drive an individual's passion into fulfilling the duties of living in a nation's economy.  In his work, The Protestant Ethic and the "Spirit" of Capitalism, Weber goes beyond the idea of Marx's focus on the means of production and subsequent conflict between the haves and the have-nots.  Weber wrote on what would happen if capitalism became unbridled and the people abandoned the values that brought them a happy, fulfilling life within their economic realm.

If Weber's theory is followed to conclusion, we could perceive America's economy as an iron cage.  It is the shell in which we live under, where our own job has no personal meaning or satisfaction, as if we are simply parts of the capitalism machine.  So, in the words of Pink Floyd: Welcome to the Machine.  Although this is not a metaphor for the record industry, rebellion, or a self-fulling prophecy.  America is the machine, the iron cage, and we are all just pushing through this life to find enough monetary wealth that can either make us content or extremely wealthy.  It is what we do with that wealth that is ultimately matters.  Will we buy a new car, invest in the market, or give to charity?  Will our morals ignite our passion to do well for ourselves and others, or simply aid the unbridled nature of the American capitalistic society?

In many ways, the way you answer these questions are directly related to your own political orientation.  If you believe you have a right to obtain as much wealth as you possibly can, and you should not be hindered by government regulations or treated differently than those who work for you, then you lean more towards the Republican school of thought.  However, if you believe that wealth is in fact an economic blessing, and after you've obtained enough wealth to make your life satisfactory, and want to make sure you pay your part back into the society that helped you achieve your status, you lean more Democratic.  This isn't to say there are no other factors in determining your political stance.  However, Weber's ethic and spirit theory draws lines on the economic spectrum of politics.

This is just one sociological theory among a ton of others.  Just as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle took time to put great thought into their philosophical teachings, it is our duty to take into consideration the morality in our existence on Earth, and our duty to be a productive member of society.  Perhaps Weber's idea is worth considering when we come closer to voting in the 2020 Presidential election, because as it stands, our level of unbridled capitalism is not sustainable at its current rate of growth.  Something needs to reign it in because our elections help decide how government works, and who it works for.

"Capitalism works better from every perspective when the economic decision makers are forced to share power with those who will be affected by those decisions." - Barney Frank