To practice writing a post for the American Studies blog, please take the next 15 minutes to craft a post in response to one of the following questions about Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth”:
1. What exactly is the ‘gospel of wealth,’ and what makes it a Christian obligation? Can you point to other examples of people who follow the 'gospel of wealth' in history or in today's society?
2. What, according to Carnegie, leads to the development of a gap between rich and poor? Why is this gap inevitable in modern society (according to Carnegie)? Do you agree?
3. Based on this reading, who do you think the contemporary equivalent of Andrew Carnegie is? Why?
Later on, you'll have the chance to check out the American Experience website about Carnegie.
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ReplyDelete2. Carnegie explains the proper administration of wealth in “The Gospel of Wealth.” He claims that previously, wealth was evenly distributed between the master and his apprentices, as they worked side by side. Social and political equality were both present. Consequently, the two groups were exposed to the same conditions. Because of new job opportunities and positions in mines and factories, a substantial gap has been created in society. Classes are formed, splitting the once connected laborers and employers. An inequality of environment now creates a rich and a poor. This gap is inevitable in modern society because of competition that is made between the castes. Ultimately I agree with this assertion. Since competition will most likely always be present in society, conditions will be better for some groups of people than for others. It will take longer for a common laborer to build up his wealth to a point where it matches the wealthier man’s because he already starts out at a disadvantage. I don’t believe that the gap between rich and poor will ever fully close because of this cycle.
ReplyDelete2. What, according to Carnegie, leads to the development of a gap between rich and poor? Why is this gap inevitable in modern society (according to Carnegie)? Do you agree?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Carnegie the progression of civilization led to the development of the gap between rich and poor. With technology advancing and many pursuing in industrial affairs it developed a difference between the rich and the poor; meaning those who own factories and companies and those who worked for there for little pay. Carnegie believes that this gap is inevitable because of the “Law of Competition” the undeniable reality that companies are constantly in competition. Also that many companies have a strict budget and have to cut payment of their employees so they will be able to buy more material for the products to be made, in a more productive and faster way then their competitors. With the competition many employees are forces to be content and except harsh conditions and low pay just to make it in life and to make the company greater. In a way I believe that he is saying that you have to give to get, so you have to give up good working conditions and high pay in order to be able to create the products that the nation needs. That the benefit of helping the nation and creating products that the nation need is far more beneficial than the actual sacrifices that had to be made in order to make those products.
Many years ago there used to be no gap between the rich and the poor. As a matter of fact the people who attained important roles in society had the same belonging as the people who in general were below them in society. Nowadays this is very different as we can see a clear difference between the rich and poor, the important people in society and those that are not. The difference between the two people is solel due to a change that has come about due to civilization. Carnegie uses the example of the manufacturing industry illustrating that when the master and his apprentice worked side by side and there was no clear knowledge of the difference between the two there was bad queality of the product being produced. After so many years there has been a change in generel in this generation in the sense that the poor now can attain what the rich had a long time ago or what they could not afford to have. The difference now bettween the master and those that work for him is great, as a matter of a fact the master wants to have no connection with those that work for him, this is the law of competition as Carneige states, whereby the employer is then forces into competitve circumstances. The employer is then forced into deciding to pay the workers less inorder to gain more while in competition with other people. This action then cases tention between the employer and the employee and furthermore the rich and the poor. Carnegie futher states that the law of competition may be hard on people but it is good for society as a whole because through this competition it leads to survival of the fittest and through this society will get the best quality of the material things we obtain and good conditions in all aspects of our lives. This gap is inevitable in mordern society because if there is no gap and everyone, especially in manufacturing, is on the same group then they will go bankrupt. I agree with this because the with competition then people work hard to provide what is best for society but competition can have a negative effect on the common person.
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