Economic Progress VS Moral Progress.

Economic Progress VS Moral Progress

Mohandas Gandhi Leading Crowd

           Gandhi is considered to be one of the most influential people through-out history. His work has inspired numerous people. The unique thing about Gandhi is how he influenced so many people without using force or by fighting in wars. Gandhi was against all forms of fighting.  He would never use fighting to solve his problems because he was a peace maker. In Gandhi's article   “Economic and Moral Progress” he claims his view on the economy.  He compares the economic and moral progress and how they correlate with each other.

           In his article regarding the relation's between economic development and moral development “Economic and Moral Progress”(1916), the nonviolent civil disobedient and charismatic leader Mohandas Gandhi argues how economic progress does not necessarily mean moral progress. He expresses his opinion in which one who excels economically does not necessarily excel morally. He then examines the ways in which economic progress has shown to be evident in ways that it could actually be harmful to moral progress. Gandhi wrote about this argument in order to show man-kind that you don't need expensive material's and wealth to have good morals as a human being. Although this is one of Gandhi's first experience with explaining the economy, he uses a lot of valid explanations and examples on how material goods are not a necessity to be a good willed person. His passage has influenced several thousands of people in search of good morals.

          Gandhi, the intelligent, influential political leader, was offered a challenge by Mr. Kapildeva Malaviya. The challenge presented to Gandhi was to speak about the economic society. Gandhi acknowledged the question bestowed in front of him and believed he was the only speaker who was “ill-fitted for the task set before him.” Gandhi then goes on and explains that the society is divided in two, by economic progress and real progress. Economic progress is defined by material advancement and real progress is defined as moral progress. With that being stated Gandhi's main question was “Does not moral progress increase in the same proportion as material progress?” This quote is the main point gandhi was trying to come across. He explains how Rome had suffered a moral drop when it attained a high amount of material affluence's. Also another example he puts forward was described by St. Mark, when Jesus confronted by a man asking for eternal life. The man explains how he knows and practices all of the ten commandments ever since his youth; which represents that he had good morals. Jesus in response says “One thing thou lackest. Go thy way sell whatever thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” In this example Jesus is explaining how in order for the man to gain wealth in heaven he must give what he has in existence back to the poor. Jesus's point was that you may practice good and show good, but to be prevail in heaven you must not only practice good you must help others. Gandhi's examples are pinpoint and accurate to how moral progress is not proportional to economic progress.

Bill and His Wife Melinda

          Although Gandhi provides excellent examples of how moral progress is not proportional to economic progress, I believe that 

Actor Jami Gertz

there is a proportional relationship between the two. The reasoning I have to the case is how celebrities or high class civilians give back to the community. The celebrities that give back are following Jesus's statement in which they give back to the poor. Bill Gates for example is a perfect representative on how this is true. Bill Gates and his wife created a Charity called B&MGF  or the Gates foundation which is the largest private foundation in the world. His charity has donated over 33.5 billion dollars with the primary goals to globally enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. That is not all his charity does, in America his goals are to expand educational opportunities, and access information technology. Another example of a celebrity who give back to the community is actress Jami Gertz. Mrs Gertz first gained attention in her star roll in Less Then Zero. In 2011 Jami Gertz and her husband were ranked at the top of the charts for donating the most to back to charities. It's celebrities like these two who have succeeded in economic progress and who are morally excelled. Gandhi said that you would have to choose if you wanted to succeed in moral progress or to succeed in economic progress. Celebrities like these give hope that you could succeed in both moral and economic success.

           As one of the most influential people in history Gandhi was an advisor of moral progress over economic progress. He believed that there was not a direct relationship between moral and economic progress. He stated that you could only have one or the other and it was impossible to choose the both. I believe that it is possible to choose both moral and economic progress. That just because you have materials of significance that you could still have positive morals. As examples Bill Gates and Jami Gertz showed how you could achieve both economic and moral progress.