Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/837

 THE ETHICS OF WEALTH.

A GREAT deal of thought and business energy is being expended upon the problem of the production of wealth. The farmer, the manufacturer, and the business-man are constantly striving to find new and better methods to this end. A good part of the energy of the human race is devoted to this problem in its various phases. This is well. Yet the production of wealth is not an end in itself, but simply a means to an end. It must be plain that the object of human existence is not the pro- duction of wealth, but the realization of self; and in this self- realization the production of wealth is a means an all-important one certainly but not an end. It is true that the object of many a selfish and sordid existence is to produce wealth in the largest possible quantities. It is too often true also that the full and complete realization of the self and the consequent develop- ment and progress of the human race are lost to view in the scramble for material gain. I would not attempt to belittle the production of wealth in the least. It is a great economic blessing ; but I would here emphasize the consumption of wealth as an important factor in economic and moral progress. If wealth is produced only to be consumed in an unproductive, wasteful, or harmful manner, evil rather than good must be the inevitable result.

It is not within the scope of this paper to discuss the subject of consumption in all its phases, but only to inquire what ethi- cal obligations rest upon the individual in the use or consump- tion of that wealth of which he finds himself possessed.

It is quite generally admitted that the individual is under certain moral obligations to use his abilities for the general good for the good of the state. That man does not attain unto our ideal of citizenship who is not ready to devote his best energies to the public good. It is pertinent to inquire, then, whether there is any such moral obligation incumbent upon the individual in the case of his material resources. Should the

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