Could a Capitalistic society still thrive if Ethics were involved?

[El Diablo Blanco]

How well could it do if all sellers had to tell the truth, not manipulate buyers and disclose all information?  Could it be sustainable?  You always hear about how important capitalism is but it seems for it to work being dishonest and manipulative are essential.

Discuss.

[bigmc]

in theory yes in practice no

mans nature is such that greed will always rear its ugly head

[Icelord]

The fault of capitalism is that it only takes private interests into consideration. Which is great for a handful of industrialists and basically terrible for the 99.5% of people in society.

But suggest a better system. We're not about to go back to bartering, and everything else has been attempted. The same thing always happens - a handful of schmoes hoard the power & money, spread it around their families and friends, and everyone else gets the scraps thrown at them.

[MORTALCOIL]

Ever heard of Max Weber's "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism"? Let's also not forget that Adam Smith beside The Wealth Of Nations wrote "A Theory Of Moral Sentiments". Capitalism started an ethical movement. Flawed certainly because way to "rational" but still, ethics were a big part of it.

[Mr. MB]

Ethics has been a bain on mankind since the tribal lords took the prettiest 12 year old girls, biggest horse and the prime cut of Elk before others scrambled for their share. Kingdoms, Fascism and socialism had the same problems. The power at the top had first choice by right and might over their minions…"feed them cake".

Capitalism is NOT the problem. Man is the problem. Here in the west we have capitalism so it gets the blame. This thread is not allowed in Cuba, China, Iran, Pakistan, and all the other Stans and Kingdoms. Half of earth and none are capitalistic. Well, in China its called engineered socialistic capitalism. Just don't complain. It gets real cold in Mongolia.

[Rami]

Ethics has been a bain on mankind since the tribal lords took the prettiest 12 year old girls, biggest horse and the prime cut of Elk before others scrambled for their share. Kingdoms, Fascism and socialism had the same problems. The power at the top had first choice by right and might over their minions…"feed them cake".

Capitalism is NOT the problem. Man is the problem. Here in the west we have capitalism so it gets the blame. This thread is not allowed in Cuba, China, Iran, Pakistan, and all the other Stans and Kingdoms. Half of earth and none are capitalistic. Well, in China its called engineered socialistic capitalism. Just don't complain. It gets real cold in Mongolia.

This is exactly what's going on in todays world with help of money. Anything can be bought, even people, look at the middle east.

The poor duke it out for what's left.