Econ 101 says people are selfish and ruthless, taught to believe it - Business Insider

On the latest episode of Pitchfork Economics, Nick Hanauer and David Goldstein interviewed Dutch historian Rutger Bregman.If you're taught that people are inclined towards selfish and ruthless competition, you'll behave selfishly and ruthlessly.

Bregman admits that the premise of his new book, "Humankind: A Hopeful History" sounds like "it's not really a threat to anyone," but he explains that "it's a really subversive idea if you really think it through, because throughout history a more cynical view of human nature has been used by those in power to legitimize power differences and hierarchy."

Bregman has a lot to say on the podcast about America's current discussion on policing and prison reform, and what a more decent criminal justice system might look like. And he's also very aware that the thesis of "Humankind" basically disproves mainstream neoliberal interpretation of economics. Bregman is arguing that Smith has people's intentions wrong. While Smith claims that a society is made up of individuals looking out for themselves, Bregman says that instead societies are made up of interconnected individuals operating in concert. Those butchers, brewers, and bakers aren't perfectly rational capitalists carving their fiefdoms out of the world using selfishness as their guide.

paulconstant This is just the old debate about whether man is basically good or basically bad. He is basically bad. Without exception, all have sinned. The only reason someone would think man is good is because evil is so prevalent you get used to it. That's why we need a savior.

paulconstant what? have you ever watched 2 year olds?

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