The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality
The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality is an investigation into the psychological roots of the anti-capitalistic stance that is widespread in the general populations of the capitalist world. It suggests various reasons for this mentality, primarily the free competition in the market economy allows no excuses for one's failures. This book then argues that this mentality creates a great incentive for one's desire for improvement and greater effort to succeed, as well as a greater reward for that success.
Written during the heyday of twentieth-century socialism, this work provides the reader with lucid and compelling insights into human reactions to capitalism.
Respected economist Ludwig von Mises plainly explains the causes of the irrational fear and hatred many intellectuals and others feel for capitalism.
He traces the causation of the misunderstandings and resultant fears that cause resistance to economic development and social change.
Mises explores answers from a wide variety of angles, and discusses the nature of academic institutions, popular culture, and how vices like jealousy and envy affect theory.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Social Characteristics of Capitalism and Psychological Causes of Its Vilification
The Sovereign Consumer
The Urge for Economic Betterment
Status Society and Capitalism
The Resentment of Frustrated Ambition
The Resentment of the Intellectuals
The Anti-capitalistic Bias of American Intellectuals
The Resentment of the White Collar Workers
The Resentment of the “Cousins”
The Communism of Broadway and Hollywood
Chapter 2: The Ordinary Man’s Social Philosophy
Capitalism as It Is and as It Is Seen by the Common Man
The Anti-capitalistic Front
Chapter 3: Literature under Capitalism
The Market for Literary Products
Remarks about the Detective Stories
Freedom of the Press
The Bigotry of the Literati
The “Social” Novels and Plays
Chapter 4: The Noneconomic Objections to Capitalism
The Argument of Happiness
Materialism
Injustice
The “Bourgeois Prejudice” for Liberty
Liberty and Western Civilization
Chapter 5: “Anti Communism” versus Capitalism