Adam Smith’s American Dream free essay sample

The Whybrow’s article â€Å"Adam Smith’s American Dream: of Desire and Debt† provides a critical review of the American Dream applied to a contemporary society. The style of writing is narrative, though is strongly supported by evidence. The author provides relevant examples, suggestions and considerations concerning to topic discussed. The article may be conditionally divided into introductory paragraphs providing the general information about contemporary American society and its problems; main body pointing out the core issues regarding Adam Smiths dream meaning that people are subjected to make debts; conclusion providing summing up of the material and author’s personal suggestions. The article is useful for students as well as scientists and teacher as it provides thorough detailed examination of the case with proper conclusions and suggestions. (Whybrow 2006) In introduction the author claims that some Americans still believe that nobody is able to become wealthy in the country, though there were many fable stories about lucky individuals who due to their hard-working, right running and desired has made their dream come true. We will write a custom essay sample on Adam Smith’s American Dream or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (Whybrow 2006) Whybrow says that such stories reflect striving of many Americans to better living. However, many of the dreams are tarnished. The author defines the main problem of the modern business considering that businesses are too fickle, frantic and they are only profit-driven. According to the author to be successful means to be like multitask dynamo. It is summarized that American fast lifestyle is a real source of anxiety, depressions and frustrations as it is difficult for average people to survive. The author characterizes American life to be full of discomfort and discontent due to technology development. For majority of Americans the life nowadays is less satisfactory. According to numerous surveys conducted it is indicated that despite serious economic and political achievement of the country, people   work longer having thus less time for their families. The author concentrates also on American achievements, stating that America is the richest country in the whole world, though the Americans appetites for materials things are expanding. For example, contemporary houses of rich people seem to be cathedrals and palaces, whereas there are people who can’t afford any housing because of lack of money. The author underlines the serious social inequality considering it to be a real gap among society layers. (Whybrow 2006) Whybrow asserts that American nations are in the â€Å"orgy of debt†. The family savings fell to zero meaning that more people remain unemployed. The article provides relevant questions to find out what goes wrong and how the situation can be either changed or improved. It is evident that market society requires money which requires work. Whybrow cites economists who argue that when a person borrows money to make a purchase, it is a rational act. Nevertheless, the author doesn’t share such viewpoint. It is suggested that American society lead industrialized country to a personal debt. It means that American consumers are only victims of corporate exploitation. (Whybrow 2006) Nevertheless, the author finds both explanations mentioned above incomplete. He asserts that by loaning money people become enslaved to the workplace. They are imprisoned by their dreams, because desire drives debt. The situation may be changed if people realize that it is desire, not need, drives them to make debt in order to remain the desired material things. Desire, according to the author, is a serious problem of the modern society. People need to control their human instincts and to learn more neurobiology and history to have clear understanding what is going o with them. Adams Smith was a famous professor of moral psychology who set out simple principles designed â€Å"the free the self-interest of the average working man†. (Whybrow 2006) Smith’s writings were likely to be the guidelines of bedrock of the American economic success. Smith provided information how to survive in capitalist country and to remain humane. The author suggests that smith’s writings are important for understanding the growing discomfort being experienced by American society. It is admitted that Smith’s theory is based mostly on biology of human behavior. Actually Adam smith was the first to rationalize the human instincts and desires within the economic framework. Whybrow cites Smith arguing that contemporary society is driven by self-love and self-interest to achieve the desired outcomes. Most humans are hard-working and ingenious willing to achieve great social benefits. Smith asserts that it is the instinct of self-preservation. The essential complement is the instinctual curiosity meaning the desire to explore new places. Success of market society depends on individuals’ democracies and liberties as well as the freedom of expression. Adams summarized the keys to social improvements suggesting they were curiosity, self-interest, self-preservation, material gains and expressed ambitions. (Whybrow 2006) Whybrow emphases that Smith’s ideas were integral to the vision of the Founding Fathers. Therefore Smith’s ideas found practical application in American nation. It is concluded that American dream nowadays is significantly magnified by globalization processes, technology developments, though social good is paid less attention. The author provides a conclusion the key to success in contemporary America is accumulation of material wealth. It means that American society has built aggressive capitalist system and thus the society has been dramatically changed. (Whybrow 2006) References Whybrow, Peter. (2006). Adam Smith’s American Dream: of Desire and Debt. New York: The City University of New York.