Day 1

Roman Day
Dr. Colombo
UWRT1104
27 February 2017

Is Greed Good?

What is Greed?

Is Greed wrong/immoral?

Has Greed Influenced History?

What is the difference between extreme ambition/drive and greed?

Is Greed around today?

Works Cited
 Day 2

What is Greed?

Christianson constructs an argument on the nature of greed and its boundaries in contrast
to greed. The simple idea is presented in the article that greed is the want for others to not
have and ambition is purely the want to have. This idea is presented in the light that greed
is negative and ultimately a selfish endeavor opposite of that which people should strive
for, that is to be meek and humble. (Christianson 1)

Linda Stern compiles historical context that provides insight into what greed is today. In
light of the economic turmoil that ensued in 2008, Stern argues that greed is in human
nature and is a driving force in todays economy, especially on Wall Street. Stern
specifically sites the crash and those individuals who benefited from the market
collapsing as opposed to holding strong. The closing argument states that greed is going
to drive individuals to make decisions and that will not change. (Stern 1)

Greed appears to have different applications. On the subject of morality, it is argued to have a
negative affect yet still bring wealth to some.
 Day 3

Is Greed wrong/immoral?

Rollert reviews greed in terms of its role in individual morals. In context of his writing it
is discovered that greed is the cause of much of the conquest and empires that take over
the world throughout history. But although this supposed moral has made triumphs, it is
always at a great cost and has resounding negative impacts, as Rollert writes As a matter
of public discourse and polite conversation, Greed is unlikely to be Good anytime
soon, but a vice need not become a virtue for the end result to look the same. (Roller 1)

In an article that dives into the issue of greed in high-income professions L. G. Lerman
writes of how greed is the end result of ultimate selfishness. As Lerman writes, 1. Those
possessed by greed tend to be preoccupied with self-interest and tend to disregard the
interests of others (Lerman 1)

Thomas Christianson reviews values in a modern business and religious view as he

compares what is seen and is right and wrong. It is made apparent through that paper that
ultimately values of ambition and drive lead to good things but can quickly consume and
individual. Also, as the title of the article suggests, the barrier or great divide between
greed and ambition is in an individuals motives; I think that not only are these two ideas
of ambition and meekness not opposite, but meekness actually protects us from moving
out of ambition into greed (Christianson 1)

The above sources pool together to reveal that ultimately greed is not good or moral. Greed has
had negative impacts on society and individuals.
 Day 4

Has Greed Influenced History?

Harry C. Alford combines historical events of the United States and its foundation to
draw the conclusion that the success of the Americas is built on greed. Although Alford
states that greed is not good, he states that it has led to the imperial and declared power
that is the United States of America. We are economically great from less than holy
experiences (Alford 1).

In Lermans study and analysis of greed in high-income occupations the issue of greed
over the ages arises. Lerman uses many studies conducted throughout the century to back
ideas that greed has grown as has the tendency for self-interest. The notion that greed has
become the driving force to many occupations and has been doing so for a number of
years becomes apparent. In 1979, one percent of the population in the United States
owned twenty-three percent of the wealth.1 By 1992, the concentration of wealth had
nearly doubled: one percent of the population in the United States owned forty-two
percent of the wealth in our country.2Since then, the figures have remained fairly stable
(Lerman 1).

John Paul Robert reviews the tales of idolized American titans of industry. In doing so,
the period of industrialization appears to be filled with big business, corporate profits,
and ever expanding monopolies. In his analysis, even men who proclaimed that good
should be done and often believed it were ultimately found to be associated with less than
perfect business tactics taking advantage of the everyday consumer. Ambition says, I
want to go get this. Greed says, I dont want anybody else to get this (Christianson 1)

Greed is riddled throughout human history. It would seem as through both past, present, and
future development of the United States will depend on greedy individuals.
 Day 5

What is the difference between extreme ambition/drive and greed?

In a swift and conclusive look into the line-in-the-sand between greed an ambition
Christianson defines the boundaries of both. Greed is based solely on self-interest and
acquisition, specifically that wagered against the success of another individual.
Christianson defines ambition as the want to do more and do better, as in a competitive
nature, the want to outperform your opponent or even teammate, but with fair play
ensured. Christianson writes, Ambition says, I want to go get this. Greed says, I dont
want anybody else to get this (Christianson 1)

The growing gap is growing between wealthy individuals and those becoming wealthy.
Inequality of wealth is growing, not because of lack drive, but, according to Lerman,
control and drive of the rich to continue to get richer, creating an exponential effect.
Lermans analysis points toward the notion that it takes capital resources to acquire
wealth and thusly takes wealth to acquire capital resources. (Lerman 1)

The sources all point to a distinct line between wanting to acquire resources and a wanting to an
endless degree. A conclusion can be drawn that the line between greed and ambition/drive sits
where the individual is trying to better themselves against stopping others from better
themselves.
 Day 6

Is Greed Around Today?

Linda Stern argues that greed is in human nature. According to Sterns writings the only
thing that has changed in terms of greed is where it is applied and who is doing the
applying. With a modern focus on Wall Street and the recent crash of 2008, Stern
constructs a model that demonstrates that individuals were able to benefit from millions
of people loosing their homes and jobs instead of fighting and potentially losing personal
funds in order to stop the process. Those Wall Street bonus-baggers may have been
innovative enough to develop credit default swaps, but they didn't invent greed. (Stern
1)

In Harry C. Alfords writings of the American conquest and the roots in greed references
appear to the modern development of greed. Alford writes that the American system of
imperialism had lead us to this point in the world and will lead us further into economic
and military dominance in the modern world. (Alford 1)

In summary, greed is around today as much, if not more than, it was three hundred years ago.
Greed is suggested to be an age-old concept of man that will aid in prevailing in the modern
world.
 Day 7

Works Cited

Alford, Harry C. Conquest and Greed: What Made America Great.

Conquest and Greed: What made America Great, National Black Chamber of Commerce,

www.nationalbcc.org/news/beyond-the-rhetoric/439-conquest-and-greed-what-made-

america-great.

Christianson, Thomas. Wheres the Line Between Greed and Ambition? RELEVANT

Magazine, RELEVANT Media Group Inc., 14 Oct. 2015,

www.relevantmagzine.com/life/make/wheres-line-between-greed-and-ambition.

Lerman, L G. THE SLIPPERY SLOPE FROM AMBITION TO GREED TO DISHONESTY:

LAWYERS, MONEY, AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY. Hofstra Law Review.,

vol. 30, 2002, pp. 879-922.

Robert, John Paul. Greed Is Good: A 300- Year History of a Dangerous Idea. The Atlantic,

Atlantic Media Company, 7 Apr. 2014,

www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/04/greed-is-good-a-300-year-history-of-a-

dangerous-idea/360265/.

Stern, Linda. Economy: The Human History of Greed. Newsweek, IBT media, 13 mar. 2010,

www.newsweek.com/economy-human-history-greed-76435.
Day 8