Capitalist Society

Idealistically, a job well done is reward enough for the effort. Logically it is dangerous to complete tasks merely for the personal economic gain or recognition since there will be nothing left but disappointment if the task fails to bring these rewards. Despite such common sense, society today revolves largely around the promise of wealth and fame, partially due to the capitalist system it is governed by. People today are motivated to achieve by materialistic promises, rather than a sense of personal achievement.

Capitalist society revolves around the promise of material rewards for accomplishments, making it easy for the people of today's society to be motivated by greed. Money and fame remain part of the American dream, following closely the promise of being able to pursue a goal for more than a sense of accomplishment. The "invisible hand" assumes that when people are left to pursue their own interests, society will in turn benefit. What becomes lost is part of the individual's benefit that is the self-fulfilling notion of having completed a task only for the happiness it gives.

Striving to be accepted to an Ivy League college is a less dramatic example of pursuing recognition, rather than happiness. Many children of today are flocking to afterschool activities so that they may add them to their growing list of accomplishments for the colleges. Many of these students become machines, working mindlessly towards the recognition they will receive once they are accepted to Princeton, or Harvard, or Yale. The buzz on school campuses near college decision dates demonstrates the effect that society has had on its youth. While some students have learned to follow their heart and receive happiness from participating in the activities that they love, many other have fallen victim to today's trend; the pursuit of the material or egocentric goal.