American Values | Capitalism Does Not Promote Positive Values

David Hilfiker asserts in the following viewpoint that capitalism, the “new religion” of American society, promotes values that are morally questionable. He argues that capitalism celebrates a philosophy of self-interest, undermines the dignity of work, and uses money as the measuring stick for everything—including people. Hilfiker is a physician who works with the inner-city poor.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. In Hilfiker’s view, what five assumptions of capitalism have shaped American assumptions about life?

2. How has the capitalist...

[The entire page is 4044 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the: