The Decline Of The Beginnings Of Civilization - 2439 Words

Introduction Ever since the beginnings of civilization, mankind has sought to find the most profitable use of his resources. Because humanity is mortal in nature, the amount of time devoted to one individual life is constantly growing smaller. The individual, aware of this fact and in an effort to make the most of his or her time allotted in life, devotes most of their mental and physical energies toward bettering them self and ensuring their survival. In early human times, this meant having many children, having an ample supply of food and having adequate shelter. As mankind continued to advance, groups of people with similar interests began to find one another and form communities. With the advent of communities and tribes, labor†¦show more content†¦Over time, two main economic and political societies were formed. The individual based society had values and traditions emphasizing independence. Members of these societies were encouraged to stand alone, go against the crowd and t o be successful. On the other hand, the group based society raises it’s young to a different set of values, respect for elders and family, conformity, and sacrifice of self for the sake of the whole. From the individualistic system of values, capitalism was born. And from the group-centered society, socialism was formed. Both systems have their own merits and failures, but Capitalism is the only moral system, the only system in which freedom is preserved, the only system in which a human being is still a human being, the only just system. Capitalism Adam Smith proposed the basic principals of capitalism in 1776 with the publication of his book, The Wealth of Nations. Smith emphasized four main points: Laissez Faire, Self Interest, Specialization, and Free Trade. Laissez faire means no government involvement in the economy. In Smith’s day, governments were corrupt and government involvement in business meant certain business would be favored above others. Smith also emphasized self-interest, meaning that each individual should pursue their interests and seek to better their own life. The result is a society indefinitely getting better. Specialization is division of labor into specific tasks. For example, one man is