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Title: ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises)
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| ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. Envy or Conceit? | The Anti Capitalistic Mentality is Mises' attempt to uncover the driving force behind the socialist movement of the early twentieth century. As such, it should be seen as an alternative to Hayek's `Fatal Conceit/Abuse of Reason' hypothesis. Mises and Hayek agree on some points. Mises claims that "everyone is prone to overate his own worth and deserts" (p10). This is consistent with Hayek's Fatal Conceit hypothesis, but Mises takes the idea that people overate themselves inn a different direction. Hayek thought that intellectuals disdain capitalism because it offends their intellectual pride. Those who see themselves as the best and brightest cannot accept the idea that spontaneously evolved orders outperform any system that they can consciously design.
Mises emphasizes envy and resentment, along with the lack of proper economic education. As Mises puts it on page 36 socialists "are blinded by envy and ignorance. They stubbornly refuse to stuffy economics ... they pretend to trust only in experience. But they also stubbornly refuse to take cognizance of the undeniable facts of experience".
The main problem with this book is that it is too short. Mises did not develop his ideas in this book to the extent he developed other ideas elsewhere. Also, Mises relies too much on the notion that people hate capitalism because the market value of their wage is below their self-evaluation. People do tend to overate their own worth. However, it should be noted that even those who succeed often hate capitalism. Consider the following list of highly successful wealthy capitalism haters: John Lennon, James Cameron, George Soros, Stephen Speilberg, Warren Beatty, Ted Turner, Jane Fonda... These people passed the market test and then some. Yet they hate the system that made them wealthy and famous. Why? Lack of economic education might explain more than does envy. Who would they envy?
The Anti Capitalistic Mentality is still an important book. It explores vital issues that should be sorted out more completely. Since Mises kept this book brief, the task of developing this and Hayek's work on the motivations behind the socialist/interventionist movement will be left to their intellectual heirs. | | ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. Great book and a short read too! | | Ludwig von Mises hit the nail on the head in this book when he explains very clearly why anti-capitalists hate capitalism. It basically boils down to jealousy. So if you want a great read that is less than 100 pages and will leave you with new knowledge, then you should buy this book. | | ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. Spectacular. | Over fifty years ago, the famous economist whose career "showed that government intervention is always destructive," penned The Anti-capitalistic Mentality. This short book marked his official venture into psychology. We should be grateful today for its insight. His deconstruction of those opposed to free markets indicates that he had a far better understanding of humanity than do the majority of psychologists.
What impresses most about The Anti-capitalistic Mentality is just how prescient a work it is. The failures of socialism were evident in the 1950s but not as glaring as they are in 2008. Yet this truth does not prevent our politicians from continuing to push for more and more government expansion. The concomitant disruption and diminution of the private sector is discounted entirely. The experiences of Soviet Russia, the Warsaw Pact countries, and the vivid and ongoing failures of communist starvation zones like Cuba and North Korea are pooh-poohed by those desirous of further empowering the Leviathan. In light of what America has become, Von Mises' elucidation of the enemies of capitalism is more pertinent than ever.
It is the common man who benefits most from capitalism. He profits from those who save, who invest, and who engage in entrepreneurial activities. These individuals expand the economy, elevate wages, and employ him directly. More importantly, there are no structural barriers which prevent him from joining the ranks of such persons.
In the final analysis, to hate capitalism is to hate liberty as only within the framework of personal choice can one choose an education, a vocation, and course of life that suits them. The laissez-faire philosophy is what put an end to slavery and serfdom. Nobody born poor in a free society is destined to poverty. How ironic it is that so many anti-capitalists describe themselves as being "liberal" when there is nothing liberal about stealing the dreams and futures of those you regard as nothing more than wards or mascots.
Psychologizing proved a very elementary feat for Ludwig von Mises. His deconstruction and refutation of the anti-capitalist outlook was a noble undertaking. He flamboyantly paraded its irrationality for all to see over fifty years ago, but it is now up to us to popularize his forgotten, but exquisite, argumentation.
| | ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. He pulls no punches | Von Mises really exposes the socialist envy-mongers for what they are. He explains why so many people, especially the pseudo-intellectuals that fill a lot of universities and Hollywood entertainers with little or no background in economics, hate capitalism. It all boils down to envy - they don't want to take responsibility for the fact that they are failures.
Not only does this book provide an explanation for why people hate capitalism, it provides a good basic economics lesson. It covers a lot of the essentials about how the market works, explodes common myths, and critiques socialism, all at the same time.
This is one of those "must-read" worldview books. I particularly appreciated this book as a Christian libertarian (although Von Mises wasn't a Christian as far as I can tell). Regardless of your political persuasion, though, I would strongly recommend reading this book. Most people don't have a clue how economics actually works. Unfortunately, this means that most people aren't really able to evaluate the different positions on the economy when they're asked to vote on them in elections. People are forced to dissect thousands of hapless frogs in biology class, even though most people will never use it again. On the other hand, economics is something that effects everyone every day, and yet few if any high schools or colleges require it as a general elective. A lot of people, including a lot of supposed conservatives, are basically socialists in their actual thinking and practice. I would urge everyone to read this book if you want to be informed on economics issues. If you're currently in, or about to go to, college this book is particularly important for you because you WILL be confronted with the ideas that Von Mises critiques (take it from someone whose currently a senior in college). | | ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. A great explanation on why socialism can be appealing | This book remains a very interesting essay more than 50 years after being published, giving a clear and accurate explanation on the motives why socialism can be a very appealing ideology to the less literate on economic matters.
Mises gives insight on the reasons why envy and ignorance can drive so many people who benefit from all the advantages of capitalism to fall for doctrines that destroy the fundamental principles that enabled them to have a quality of life far beyond their grandparents' wildest dreams.
Mises explains, in a lively and simple approach, that doesn't require any previous training in economics, why capitalism is the system responsible for economic growth and enables individual liberty. | | ANTI-CAPITALISTIC MENTALITY (Liberty Fund Library of the Works of Ludwig Von Mises) by Liberty Fund Inc. From the Publisher | | Professor Mises searches for the roots and consequences of the common anti-capitalist bias. What makes so many people unhappy in the private property order? It is precisely the fact that it grants to everyone the opportunity to secure maximum income and obtain the most desirable position. In such a system, the failures need a scapegoat. People whose ambitions have not been fully satisfied and whose dreams are not fully realized blame the system. Frustrated intellectuals, writers, and literati become vocal foes of the system. |
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