HSS: Two Old Stories About Capitalism, and the Search for New Ones

Capitalism has long been a lightning rod for moral controversy in the West, from the 19th century origins of socialism to the 2011 "occupy" movements. America is divided between those who embrace the "capitalism is exploitation" story and those who embrace the "capitalism is liberation" story. What are the moral controversies arising in Asia these days, as many new variants of capitalism flourish? In this talk I'll present my own research on moral psychology, I'll apply it to capitalism in the West, and then I'll lead a discussion of the relationship of capitalism to morality, virtues, and institutions in Singapore and other Asian nations. I will also discuss what I've learned from my meetings with various individuals in Singapore.