Late Stage Capitalism
A place for for news, discussion, memes, and links criticizing capitalism and advancing viewpoints that challenge liberal capitalist ideology. That means any support for any liberal capitalist political party (like the Democrats) is strictly prohibited.
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Introduction to Socialism (external links)
Marxism-Leninism Study Guide: Basic Course
Marxism-Leninism Study Guide: Advanced Course
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That's how well capitalism has succeeded in making us believe its definition of human nature as a greedy creature is the only one definition. As if it is unquestionably true. Capitalism is a system that eventually destroys itself, that is what you are witnessing. Human nature is not defined as such. We are codependent rational animals, programmed for sharing and caring. Not to be greedy.
I'd love to believe that, but I've read too many history books.
I recommend you to read Rutger Bregman's Humankind: A Hopeful History. And David Graeber's the Dawn of Everything.
Not that their arguments end all discussion on this. But the clear-cut definition of humans as inherently greedy creatures is also not set in stone as capitalism/liberalism likes us to believe.
It would be quite the philosophical revolution if we had a final definition of human nature. So no, we cannot say: looking at history we must conclude that humans are inherently greedy, no further discussion.
If you find that comforting, then great. Genuinely happy for you.
Individuals fall to temptation all the time. The issue isn't humans, it's the shape of our structures. If only a handful of people are the lynch pin to everything, they're eventually gonna be corrupted by the power. Spreading the power out and not allowing it to coalesce is the answer.
The humans with spread out power weren't bombastic, so they make for uninteresting reads of history. But those stories are out there, of communities quietly thriving in all times.