Skip to main content

Distributed for Haus Publishing

Greed

From Gordon Gekko to David Hume

In a riveting scene from the film Wall Street, Gordon Gekko proclaims that “greed is good.” The great philosopher David Hume, on the other hand, describes greed as the most destructive of the vices. The recent banking debacle and continuing uproar about executive bonus pay has placed the controversial issue of greed at the very heart of how we view modern society. Is Gekko’s maxim simply in need of some moderation? Or is Hume’s view too extreme?

In Greed, Stewart Sutherland examines these conflicting notions and discusses how we might approach the problem of greed today. He looks at the concept of incentives, which are essential for achieving results, and whether the desire for money is really as dangerous as it might seem. Powerful and timely, Greed is a much-needed look at an attitude that, for better or worse, is an unavoidable driving force in modern society.

80 pages | 4 1/2 x 7 | © 2014

Haus Curiosities

Sociology: General Sociology


Haus Publishing image

View all books from Haus Publishing

Reviews

“A brief but powerful look at the history of avarice in society. . . . Haus is to be congratulated for its courage in dusting off the political pamphlet format and publishing a series of essays, short enough to be read in one sitting, in the internet age. . . . Sutherland’s book is an elegantly written aperitif at a rather refined banquet of political ideas.” 

Times Higher Education

“A dense and thought-provoking read.”

Independent

Table of Contents

The problem
David Hume: destructive or creative
sceptic?
Self-assertion or ‘sympathy’?
Stability, Property and Greed
So What?
Notes

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press