The Unexpected Capitalist: How Everyone You Know (God & You Inclusive) Is Driven by Self-Interest!
Capitalism (or capitalists) is often seen as a system of economic and social organization that is based on private ownership, free markets, and self-interest. Capitalism is also often contrasted with socialism, which is based on public ownership, central planning, and social welfare. However, in this article, I will argue that capitalism is not just a system, but a mindset that is shared by all human beings, regardless of their political or religious views. We are all capitalists!
I will use the philosophy of Ayn Rand, the founder of Objectivism, as a framework to show how self-interest is the driving force behind all human actions, and how it can lead to both individual and social benefits.
NB: Did you know that I recently took classes and graduated in philosophy of OBJECTIVISM at JOHN GALT SCHOOL? See my social media proclamation here:
Back to the topic, I will also challenge the common perception that Christianity is opposed to capitalism or self-interest, and show how the Christian story of God saving the world involves God doing it for His glory!
Irrespective of the evil consequences that could come out of this notion, I will conclude that everything comes back to self-interest and that everyone is a capitalist in one way or the other.
You are a Capitalist, and here is how I know it!
In the grand bazaar of human existence, where desires barter for fulfillment and actions trade for consequences, Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism offers a provocative lens. Through its central tenet of rational self-interest, Objectivism challenges us to re-evaluate not just economics, but the very fabric of our motivations. And in this marketplace of ideas, a startling truth emerges: everyone, from the boardroom titan to the cloistered monk, is a capitalist at heart.
Rand’s magnum opus, “Atlas Shrugged,” paints a stark picture of a world succumbing to collectivist ideals. The heroes, like the industrialist John Galt, are driven by a relentless pursuit of their self-interest, their achievements benefiting society as a by-product. ‘Wait! Did you even notice that? ‘their achievements benefit society as a by-product’?
In other words, no one wakes up to start a company to provide employment. If there was a magical way of production without employees, every CEO would go for it! Our employment is an overflow, a requirement for their selfish reasons. The good we reap from people is simply an overflow of what they own, a by-product of their grand achievements!
Rand argues that even the seemingly altruistic act of charity finds its roots in the self-gratification of fulfilling one’s moral code.
This is what some of my friends in climate change activism miss; they hope that someone somewhere will just sacrifice for their well-being! For any possible climate action, there must be a way to gain from it! Let us pause on this before it ruins everything!
While this perspective may seem cynical, it throws a stark light on the inherent drive for self-preservation and self-actualization that pulsates within every human being. Consider the artist, pouring their soul onto canvas not for the applause, but for the profound satisfaction of creation. Or the scientist, toiling in the lab not for societal recognition, but for the thrill of uncovering the universe’s secrets. Even the act of love, in its purest form, is a transaction of shared joy and fulfillment. The point is ‘self’. I love you when you are mine!
Could God be a Capitalist? Let’s see!
Surprisingly, even the Christian story of salvation, when viewed through the Objectivist lens, reveals a compelling argument for self-interest as the driving force.
At its core, the Christian narrative speaks of God’s sacrifice for humanity. But this sacrifice, Rand might argue, is not purely altruistic. From an Objectivist perspective, God’s creation of the universe and his subsequent interaction with humanity are not random acts of benevolence, but expressions of his divine potential. He creates because creation fulfills him, he interacts because interaction fulfills him.
Wait! It is not that He is insufficient or not fulfilled and creation makes Him sufficient. No! The idea is that creation reveals His sufficiency. His sacrifice, then, becomes the ultimate act of self-actualization, the ultimate expression of his limitless potential for love and compassion. It is the same with His vengeance as a show-off of his justice.
Herein lies the crux of the Randian argument: even in the grandest narratives, self-interest remains the fundamental motivator. God saves humanity not out of some external obligation, but because it fulfills his divine purpose. This does not diminish the significance of God’s sacrifice but rather reframes it as an act of self-assertion, a testament to his boundless capacity for love and creation. The Bible says He is and does all He does for His Glory. God can or does sacrifice anything for His glory. It is never about us, but Him.
See my video and article about this!
In the Bible’s book of John 9, Jesus is asked about whose fault it was that a man was born blind. In response, Jesus declares, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’ It is in His name that He is and does what He does! And yet this kind of ‘self-interest’ is pure and holy!
In the same way, we also love God for ‘selfish reasons’. The belief that one day we will be glorified with Him in Heaven makes all sacrifices look small! It is the promise of resurrection that forms the basis of the gospel. Remove this promise of future gratification and following Jesus has no meaning!
John Piper, the modern-day theologian, explores this in his concept of Christian hedonism. According to John Piper, God is most Glorified in us if we are most satisfied in Him. In other words, God is pleased with us if we are happy in Him. Our pursuit of pleasure and happiness isn’t contradictory to God’s law but a fulfillment of His desire for us; To be happy in Him.
As such, we love and serve God for our happiness and satisfaction.
Ayn Rand’s Capitalist may be too shallow!
My problem with Ayn Rand’s idea is that it may be too shallow! She reduces self-interest to success in this life, in only physical and tangible things. According to Rand, reality exists independently of our consciousness and can be experienced through our senses. This is true.
However, by asserting that our gateway to reality is only through physical senses, Rand forgets that our physical senses bring us a tiny fraction of the details of the possible reality out there. As such, perception and interpretation of reality are based on physical senses and conscious knowledge or rationale, which makes us too basic! At the physical level, we are too basic to be any special or experience the whole truth!
Rand summarizes her philosophy as follows:
‘My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.’
As one can see, she is on point. Our happiness should be our moral compass. Why would any man in his right mind pursue anything that doesn’t bring pleasure and happiness? The pursuit of self-interest is or should be the highest moral virtue. Our task is to serve ourselves. I truly agree with this.
However, she doesn’t see pleasure and happiness beyond physical achievements! She doesn’t see our pursuit of self-interest in the sacrifices or self-denials we make for others. Her philosophy is of here and now. However, Christians take it further, into the future, into another life!
She doesn’t recognize that pursuing happiness (or self-interest) can involve actions, thoughts, and beliefs beyond ‘her natural world or reality’. She doesn’t see how some sorts of ‘self-denials’, ‘ sacrifices’ or ‘social good’ end up serving our happiness! She describes her ideas as a ‘philosophy for living on earth’. She does not see or recognize life, reality, or any galaxy beyond our earth!
Nevertheless, her philosophy is awesome and holds a lot of truths, and we can rely on it to understand these basics.
Considering all the above, in my view, there is no such thing as ‘selfless’ or ‘unselfishness’ or ‘sacrifice’. Even sacrifices, for example, the one of Christ dying for us on the cross, later pay off! I hear politicians declare, ‘I will sacrifice myself for the people’. That is a pure lie! No single politician is sacrificing anything for you! The government doesn’t care about you.
No one cares about you more than they do care about themselves. Your mom can die for you, but that’s because you are indeed hers! She is saving her own! It is deep!
I love my wife because she is indeed mine! The things I do for her return to me in one way or the other. Self-gain is at the core of every action.
The implications of capitalistic self-interest
Now, the implications of this argument are far-reaching. If everyone, from the businessman to the beggar, is ultimately driven by self-interest, does this negate the possibility of true altruism? Does it render morality a mere mask for self-preservation?
Rand would argue no. True morality, she claims, is not found in self-denial or selfless sacrifice, but in the pursuit of one’s rational self-interest, as long as it does not infringe upon the rights of others. Morality, in this view, becomes a system of rules that allows individuals to flourish and achieve their full potential, thereby creating a society where everyone wins.
In my view, it looks a ‘little immoral’ to sacrifice your life for some other thing or person or belief. Who would you convince with a love that excludes yourself? ‘I love you more than I do love myself’. Seriously? And you believe that?
This, of course, is not to say that all actions motivated by self-interest are inherently moral. Greed, cruelty, and exploitation are all driven by self-interest, but they also violate the fundamental principle of respecting the rights of others. True self-interest, in the Randian sense, demands respect for individual autonomy and a recognition that mutual benefit is the foundation of a thriving society.
Of course, this would be the simplest way of looking at it. It is the simplest way Ayn Rand managed to grasp it! Human rights can be a complex thing to define or understand. Freedom (or human autonomy or ‘free will and choice’) is also hidden in many misconceptions and falsehoods. It may even be hard to tell when we have (and when we have not) slipped from serving self-interest to greed, cruelty, exploitation, blackmailing, trickery, and coercion.
Take an example of a capitalist who proposes to buy an acre of land at just 200,000 Uganda shillings to a farmer whose child is very ill waiting for healthcare. In this scenario, the farmer willingly sells their land at the lowest amount possible not because it is the right value for their property but because they have been blackmailed or exploited by the capitalist and the situation of the sick child. This is how capitalists have succeeded at accumulating wealth; exploitation, blackmailing, coercion, and many other unethical means. Ayn Rand’s simplicity may not account for all of these issues.
All these scenarios are difficult to navigate to remain a ‘holy’ or moral capitalist!
However, it is a good start, at least for our living on the earth!
You are a Capitalist, live it!
The point is we are all seeking our self-interests in all the endeavors we take.
It is important to seek your interests above everyone and everything else. Just know that everyone else is doing the same! You and everyone else are capitalists! How moral and holy these pursuits of self-interest are is a discussion of another time!
The Randian perspective on self-interest, while seemingly stark, offers a compelling re-evaluation of human motivation. It challenges us to see the inherent drive for self-fulfillment in all aspects of life, from the mundane to the sacred. While this may not always paint a rosy picture, it does offer a framework for understanding our actions and interactions with a newfound clarity.
Ultimately, the question remains: will we embrace our inherent self-interest and build a society where everyone thrives, or will we succumb to the siren song of altruism and sacrifice, creating a world where only a few, especially your pastor and politician truly flourish? THINK ABOUT IT!