[lbo-talk] morality

[John Thornton]

turbulo at aol.com wrote:
> Doug asked:
>
>
> But if you don't have some moral or ethical objection
> to exploitation, why do you have a problem with capitalism?
>
>
> Because exploitation is contrary to fundamental human nature. And it 
> won't do to say that it can't be contrary because human beings do it 
> (exploit one another). Certain things people do are consonant with 
> what is fundamental about human beings, and certain things aren't. Our 
> notions about human nature are also the basis for ethics (assuming we 
> don't believe that morality is ordained by God). This is why all 
> apologies for capitalism, as well as slavery and other forms of class 
> society, are invariably based on some argument to the effect that the 
> class hierarchy reflects natural differences in human capacities, and 
> arguments against class society on arguments that it doesn't.
>
> Jim 

Can you tell me more about this fundamental human nature?
Is it immutable over time? It is genetic?
Why won't it do to claim exploitation isn't contrary to this fundamental 
human nature since it exploitation does exist and always has as near as 
anyone can tell?
What definition of fundamental human nature would explain human 
behaviour but exclude exploitation?

John Thornton