Liberty and Property.pdf - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

50Liberty and Propertyto by any external effort, but require theindividual’s personal determination andexertion. Those levelling this reproachagainst capitalism display a rather crude andmaterialistic view in assuming that moraland spiritual culture could be built eitherby the government or by the organization ofproduction activities. All that these externalfactors can achieve in this regard is to bringabout an environment and a competencewhich offers the individuals the opportunityto work at their own personal perfectionand edification. It is not the fault of capitalismthat the masses prefer a boxing match toa performance of Sophocles’ Antigone, jazzmusic to Beethoven symphonies, and comicsto poetry. But it is certain that while pre-capitalisticconditions as they still prevail in themuch greater part of the world makes thesegood things accessible only to a small minorityof people, capitalism gives to the many afavorable chance of striving after them.From whatever angle one may look at capitalismthere is no reason to lament the passing