Greed
In 1986, Ivan Boesky stood before graduates at UC Berkeley and declared that greed is healthy. His words sparked a global debate about whether the desire for more is a moral failing or an evolutionary necessity. Modern psychology defines greed as an inordinate desire to acquire what one does not need. This state creates a bottomless pit where satisfaction remains forever out of reach. Erich Fromm described this condition as exhausting the person in endless effort without ever reaching contentment. The motivation often begins with survival instincts but quickly shifts into obstruction of others. A greedy individual may deny competitors access to basic resources while claiming defense against threats. This dual nature makes greed both insidious and tyrannical in its impact on society.
Classical Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle discussed pleonexy as an unjust desire for tangible worth belonging to others. Mythic punishment meted to Tantalus involved eternal withholding of food and water from his grasp. Roman historians such as Sallust and Plutarch blamed the demise of their Republic on greed for wealth and power. In Persia, the three-headed demon Aži Dahāka represented unslaked desire within Zoroastrian folklore. Sanskrit Dharmashastras stated clearly that the root of all immorality is lobha or greed itself. Early Chinese texts counted the greedy Taotie among malevolent Four Perils besetting gods and men. North American Indian tales cast bears as proponents of greed considered a major threat in communal societies. Ancient Greeks and Romans used greed as a racial pejorative against Egyptians, Punics, and other Oriental peoples. By late Middle Ages this insult was widely directed towards Jewish communities across Europe.
St Augustine wrote in the fifth century that greed is not a defect in gold but in the man who loves it perversely. St Thomas Aquinas declared greed a sin directly against one's neighbor since temporal goods cannot be possessed by many simultaneously. Dante assigned those committed to deadly sin of greed to fourth circle of Hell where misers battle hoarders constantly. Virgil told the poet these souls lost personality in disorder becoming dark and indiscernible to knowledge. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote Radix malorum est Cupiditas meaning root of all evil is greed in Pardoner's Tale. Martin Luther condemned usurers as greater enemies than devil because they wanted whole world perish for their own gain. Michel de Montaigne argued abundance creates avarice rather than want does. He believed moneyed men are covetous and expected fortune never sufficiently arms us against herself.
Adam Smith distinguished limited desire for food from limitless desire for conveniencies and ornaments of building. He noted rich consume no more food than poor neighbor though quality may differ greatly. Karl Marx identified avarice and desire to get rich as ruling passions in heart of every burgeoning capitalist. He described Faustian conflict between passion for accumulation and desire for enjoyment of wealth. Marx stated hard work saving and avarice form three cardinal virtues of hoarder who sells much buys little. John Stuart Mill observed love of money becomes strongest moving force of human life itself. He claimed money desired not for sake of end but as part of end itself. Thorstein Veblen defined greed inherent to structure society as negative inhibitor to development of societies by mid-19th century. Weber posited spirit capitalism integrated philosophy of avarice colored with utilitarianism according to Protestant ethic.
Some research suggests there is genetic basis for greed involving shorter version of ruthlessness gene AVPR1a. People possessing this variant may behave more selfishly than others without it. Greed correlates negatively with well-being while relating positively to unethical behavior patterns. Financial behavior shows both positive earning tendencies and negative borrowing or saving less habits. Erich Fromm described bottomless pit exhausting person endless effort satisfying need never reaching satisfaction. Measures exist allowing individual tendency to be greedy measured as personality trait within psychological frameworks. Modern thinkers warn exclusive pursuit material possessions prevents man growth as human being entirely. Pope Paul VI warned in 1967 encyclical Populorum progressio that avarice most obvious form stultified moral development. Twenty years later Pope John Paul II stated nations sin through greed thirst power alongside individuals.
Pieter van der Heyden engraved image after drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder personified greed in 1558. Umberto Romano created works devoted to greed in 1950 while Michael Craig-Martin followed suit in 2008. Diddo produced another piece exploring theme in 2012. Pirate Hendrick Lucifer fought hours acquiring Cuban gold becoming mortally wounded process before dying 1627. He died hours transferring booty ship after securing vast riches during battle. Aristophanes satire Plutus showed Athenian slave saying men tire love music figs pleasures never tire wealth. Lucretius wrote fear dying poverty major drivers greed dangerous consequences morality order. Goethe's Faust featured Mephistopheles reciting cautionary tale about avariciously living beyond means near end play. American Greed documentary series explores real-world cases of financial corruption and excess throughout history.
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Common questions
What did Ivan Boesky say about greed in 1986 at UC Berkeley?
Ivan Boesky declared that greed is healthy during his speech to graduates at UC Berkeley in 1986. His statement sparked a global debate regarding whether the desire for more constitutes a moral failing or an evolutionary necessity.
How do classical Greek thinkers define pleonexy and what punishment does Tantalus receive?
Classical Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle defined pleonexy as an unjust desire for tangible worth belonging to others. Mythic punishment meted to Tantalus involved eternal withholding of food and water from his grasp.
When did Pope Paul VI warn about avarice in Populorum progressio and what was the warning?
Pope Paul VI warned in 1967 encyclical Populorum progressio that avarice most obvious form stultified moral development. Twenty years later Pope John Paul II stated nations sin through greed thirst power alongside individuals.
Who engraved the image personifying greed after drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1558?
Pieter van der Heyden engraved image after drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder personified greed in 1558. Umberto Romano created works devoted to greed in 1950 while Michael Craig-Martin followed suit in 2008.
What genetic variant is associated with selfish behavior according to research on greed?
Some research suggests there is genetic basis for greed involving shorter version of ruthlessness gene AVPR1a. People possessing this variant may behave more selfishly than others without it.