It’s not capitalism versus socialism; if the center I am operating from is itself animalistic, then I will want to earn profits for myself, whatever be the social cost. The change that we need is inward- ‘self-knowledge’. We need an education system in which the child is very openly helped to face his/her animalistic nature, then we will develop a certain humility to look for solutions beyond our tendencies.
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Questioner: Do you think capitalism lies at the root of the problems we face today? For instance, income inequality continues to rise at the societal level; greed drives many business decisions at the economic level; and on an individual level, we’re caught in a constant race for monetary achievement. This extends to how we approach education, housing, travel, and healthcare—all of which have become increasingly expensive. If capitalism is indeed the core issue, what can the individual do to respond to it?
Acharya Prashant: It’s not as if human beings are alright within themselves—pure of intention, simple and innocent—and then somehow an alien system called capitalism invades them and victimizes them. But that’s how many of us would like to think, because this line of thought shifts the blame for our present condition onto something external. We then feel justified in being what we are and claiming innocence.
Where does capitalism come from? If we say capitalism is to blame for our current situation, where does this economic and social system originate? It comes from the mind of man. It emerges from our own tendencies. Capitalism is simply a way of organizing the economy. What does it say? It says that private individuals will have the right to function economically as they please, that they will have the freedom to earn profits, and that supply and demand will determine market prices—with minimal government interference.
