LAD/Blog #22: Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth

Andrew Carnegie's "Gospel of Wealth" voices how the difference between the rich and the poor have benefited civilization. Carnegie incorporates the idea of Social Darwinism, or survival of the fittest. He expresses that "while the law may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race, because it insures the survival of the fittest in every department." Therefore, Carnegie portrays how the imbalance in the society had been beneficial since the "strongest" citizens are the people who advance. He says that the "good old times" were not really the "good old times;" that the capitalism that has grown in society has created an imbalance. Yet, this imbalance is not bad. So, Carnegie asks, "What is the proper mode of administering wealth?" He also expresses the obligations of the wealthy: to live an unostentatious life, to consider administering his revenue, and to foresee the prospects which administering his wealth would grant to the community. Carnegie ends his "Gospel of Wealth" with "The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced."

Similar to Carnegie, Bill Gates is a modern day philanthropist. Gates donates money to a foundation to increase healthcare and reduce poverty. Gates follows Carnegies example of sharing his wealth to those less fortunate.