This site examines the impact of competitive self-interest (as pervasively promoted by market-based economic theory) on our traditional idea of a moral compass.
The adoption of free market economics globally is increasingly placing the market at the centre of society. As a result, the influence it exerts on our lives extends far wider than market transactions often superceding family, community, church, society and even democratically elected governments.
The market, for all intents and purposes, has become the Market.
While the debate about whether this a good or bad thing still rages, it tends to focus on the extent of regulation. The proponents argue that in order for the market to function properly it needs to be free from interference of any kind. While the opponents argue some form of regulation is necessary because the market does not always get it right. The focus on the extent of regulation means that one of the most important implications of putting the market at the centre of society goes largely undebated: the impact on our notion of traditional morality--our sense of what is right or wrong, fair or unfair, just or unjust.
The morality of the market is based on the idea of pursuit of self-interest (every-man-for-himself), with society benefiting as the success of the few trickles down to the rest through competition. Traditional morality, on the other hand, is based on the notion of selflessness, altruism, sharing and cooperation. In the latter the point of reference is the needs of others, while in the former the point of reference is the self. Clearly the two are at odds and it is highly likely that only one will prevail as the defacto morality of the emerging post-industrial society.
This site is an attempt to gauge the extent of the influence of the market on traditional morality, a sort of moral map of the post-industrial society which hopefully will provide more insight into the implications of such a fundamental change in how our society works.
We have developed a short survey (just 25 questions) which will show where you stand on the moral map of the post-industrial environment.
The survey is completely anonymous and no information is collected which could identify any particular individual. Click on the link above to do the survey.