"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; we know now that it is bad economics." –FDR Marginal Utility
This is a true statement but the aspect that creates, establishes or confers the “bad”, is not the self-interest. The bad comes exclusively from the word “heedless”. Self interest rewards peaceful cooperation with other humans. Non-violent, non-dangerous peace is always in a person’s self interest. It is when the self-interest becomes heedless of the consequences to others that the potential to become destructive arises. What is bad for morals and economics is destructive behavior, not self-interest.
This is a true statement but the aspect that creates, establishes or confers the “bad”, is not the self-interest. The bad comes exclusively from the word “heedless”. Self interest rewards peaceful cooperation with other humans. Non-violent, non-dangerous peace is always in a person’s self interest. It is when the self-interest becomes heedless of the consequences to others that the potential to become destructive arises. What is bad for morals and economics is destructive behavior, not self-interest.
Democratic thinking is full of these understanding errors. RIP FDR
