Moral Criticisms of the Market, Article Critique Example

Ken Ewert begins his critique of the market by referring to an author who has written in a recent edition of The Nation magazine that “the religious Left is the only Left we’ve got,” saying that the secular left’s opposition to the free market and government control has steadily decreased, but the religious left’s has not. Ewert says that the secular left has embraced economic freedom primarily because they believe the anti-free market philosophy has not worked. In the Christian left’s eye, “the justness and morality of an economic system are vastly more important than its efficiency” (Ewert). The Christian critics have asked a critically important question regarding whether the free market is a moral economic system and answered it with a “No.” The reasons for this decision is their belief that the free market is based on an ethic of selfishness, is materialistic, and “it atomizes and dehumanizes society by placing too much emphasis on the individual, and it gives rise to tyrannical powers which subsequently are used to oppress the weaker and more defenceless members of society” (ibid.). If they have correctly judged the morality of the free market, then it is justly condemned. Ewert, however, does not agree with the Christians’ conclusions, and neither does this student because while individuals are encouraged to be successful, they need not act selfishly in so doing. Furthermore, some of the monetary benefits of that success goes towards one’s family, to churches and to needy people. Also, materialistm, like selfishness can occur under any economic system.

Works Cited

Ewert, K. (March 1989). The Freeman. Moral criticisms of the market, Volume 39, Issue 3. Retrieved on May 05, 2013, from http://www.thefreemanonline.org/moral-criticisms- of-the-market/