For many people, greed does not pose an ethical dilemma, as the answer is greed serves as the downfall of the human condition. Greed can cause one to become obsessed with the idea of personal benefits and luxury. However, there are multiple aspects to any concept in life. Therefore, the idea of greed can also be approached in two ways. Greed is an unethical concept as individuals are guided by a selfish desire to gain more without considering the impact their motives may have on others. On the other hand, greed can act as motivation for one to achieve their aspirations, which at times is even “encouraged” in society. But, at what cost does one choose to put their benefits at the price of another’s loss? Should this type of motivation be rewarded or not?
What is Greed?
Greed is when an individual has a strong desire to continue to gain something in abundance. Thus, it is the pursuit of one’s self-interest. When one’s actions are driven by greed, the methods of fulfilling those desires can become selfish and obsessive. In movies and books, greed is centred around money. However, greed comes in many forms and impacts both the individual and their surroundings. Additionally, greed has existed as an idea for centuries through its presence in old philosophical and religious texts.
Why Are People Lured Towards Greed?
At times it seems like large corporations are motivated by greed to generate more profit while jeopardizing the well-being of their staff or the quality of their products. With that in mind, people can be driven by greed to gain more power, influence, and money. In society, power and money are desirable as power gives an individual a sense of influence over others and the ability to have their opinion recognized by more people. While money is what essentially runs society, and with more money comes more possibilities and opportunities. Additionally, it is part of human nature to want something that we cannot have. Therefore, what lures people towards greed is having an over-attachment to material possessions and being unsatisfied with what they already have.
Is Greed Ethical?
It is up to each person to individually decide if they view greed as ethical or unethical. As mentioned before, greed is one’s ignorance of others in pursuit of self-interest. So, it is up to a person to decide if they have enough or want more. In a business sense, greed is a common concept that drives economic growth and profit incentive. But, the repercussions of greed often outweigh its benefits. In some cases, as one gains more wealth, their actions become increasingly unethical in an effort to gain more wealth. On the other hand, economists would probably view greed as ethical as it is what creates further economic development. But, that economic development comes at the cost of the exploitation of the underprivileged, which becomes unethical. In the end, it is truly a dilemma whether greed can be seen as ethical or not.
