About this episode

This episode explores the concept of Avarice, its historical context, and its implications in a capitalist society.

Following up some of the discussion points introduced in the previous episode on Ambition, this episode takes a stab at the deadly sin of Avarice. Beginning first with a historical and etymological look into Avarice and Greed, looking at when Greed overtook Avarice in common parlance and when the word moved from referring to a wider programming of miserly hoarding to a specific rapaciousness toward financial accumulation. Unsurprisingly, with the global adoption of capitalism, Avarice dropped out of common parlance and Greed saw a rebranding, with accumulation and self-interest becoming virtues rather than vices. Ultimately, Ryan and Todd try to move discussion of Avarice as a deadly sin away from strictly moral terrain and move it toward the political. (Episode may be triggering for former lifeguards at municipal pools.)

People in this episode

Hosts: Ryan, Todd

Topics covered

• Avarice
• Greed
• capitalism
• moral philosophy
• political discourse
• historical analysis

Keywords

• Avarice
• Greed
• capitalism
• moral philosophy
• politics
• historical context
• financial accumulation

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Avarice, Ambition

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