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Andrew Carnegie

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TheCerebro

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I have been studying the lives and beliefs of the early industrialists i.e. Andrew Carnegie. Ford, JP Morgan, Rockafellar etc. and found many were actually socialists. Andrew Carnegie in particular, who wrote the "Gospel of Wealth" in which he said the rich should live simply and be philanthropists, while throwing around terms like "workingman".

I am wondering if anyone knew how it is these men could hold such contradictory views. It was their money that built our modern schooling (yes, Rockefellar provided two dollars for every one dollar of federal funding to schools). Why did such wealthy men, listen to social planners?

Also is anyone familiar with the philosopher Herbert Spencer (man who coined the term "surivial of the fittest" and applied to capitalism) or how Andrew Carnegie synthesized him and Marx?

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I have been studying the lives and beliefs of the early industrialists i.e. Andrew Carnegie. Ford, JP Morgan, Rockafellar etc. and found ...

You might want to listen to Ed Locke's lecture series Studies of American Business Heroes , available at The Ayn Rand Book Store.

http://www.aynrandbookstore2.com/store/pro...item=7&mitem=34

"These four classes offer key insights into, and a vigorous defense of, four giants of America's golden age—the age when individuals were free to achieve unlimited wealth in return for unprecedented achievement. The four figures are: John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, James J. Hill and Andrew Carnegie."

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You might want to listen to Ed Locke's lecture series Studies of American Business Heroes , available at The Ayn Rand Book Store.

http://www.aynrandbookstore2.com/store/pro...item=7&mitem=34

"These four classes offer key insights into, and a vigorous defense of, four giants of America's golden age—the age when individuals were free to achieve unlimited wealth in return for unprecedented achievement. The four figures are: John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, James J. Hill and Andrew Carnegie."

Can you give me a summery, or explaination? I'm frugal and not yet ready to blow 50$ on the tapes.

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Andrew Carnegie was certainly a hero in the sense that he was one of the most succesful businessmen in the history of America.

However, he had a HORRIBLE philosophy backing up his success. He defended capitalism on the grounds that it is the most beneficial for the human race as a whole.

If you go here you can see some quotes of his that I posted on the meta-blog here a while back.

I also wrote an essay on his defense of capitalism which can be found here.

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Can you give me a summery, or explaination? I'm frugal and not yet ready to blow 50$ on the tapes.

Then talk your local community or school library into getting them -- or any other Objectivist book or tape you would like to listen to or read.

Your tax (or tuition) dollars at work!

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