Part of our discussion this week concerned the idea of the “American Dream” and whether or not the knowledge of a reward affects the merit of a just action. First I will need to describe what my understanding of the “American Dream” is. America’s history allows it a reputation for the land of freedom and opportunity. Hopefuls from all over the world have travelled to the United States to better their lives and take advantage of the opportunities that this country has to offer. The “American Dream”, at least in my opinion, is the idea that anyone in any situation is given the chance to change their circumstances by hard work and perseverance.
The outcome that these said hopefuls are expecting is to benefit themselves- and possibly their family- whether it is intellectually, economically, or on a moral, personal level. Does this mean that these people attempting to achieve the “American Dream” are not just because of their knowledge of the outcome of their hard work/ good deeds? I think not. Along the way in one’s journey for self-advancement, one may have a desire to help others. Possibly their dream is to become a doctor or some other form of philanthropic work which will not only benefit themselves but also the lives of others. These are the people that the majority would view as honorable and respectable in our society despite their self-interest. We briefly mentioned the idea that there is no such thing as a selfless act which I think is true, at least in what I have experienced in my life. Even though many people help others without the monetary gains, there is still a reward internally. This reward is the satisfaction of having helped someone in need. Therefore, even the most seemingly selfless act still has a portion of self-interest involved even if it is subconsciously.
As far as monetary gain is concerned, as we discussed in distributive justice, I believe it is important to consider the significance of money in our society. Money controls everything in our society whether we like it or not. The cost of living is high, and a life of poverty is a life of constant struggle. Though it is possible to live a happy and comfortable life with very little external goods, society has created the idea that people will not be happy without the very best, most luxurious life. I think this is the less unrealistic outcome of the “American Dream” that many people hope for- to be monetarily sound and without the worries of poverty. Therefore, this idea created by society makes it near impossible for many people to achieve a comfortable life without a great deal of money. Those hoping to gain a higher economic status and financial stability are not any less just than the rest of society.
An interesting point you raise is the issue of the morality of the pursuit of monetary advancement. You justify this by pointing to how it can be contextualized within our consumerist society, but what you do not account for is that fact that the so called “American Dream” is the basis of this cultural expectation. You suggest that the “American Dream” can be fulfilled through other means, and that the monetary obsession of our society is an unfortunate side effect of the dream, and not the natural progression of it. And although you say there is nothing wrong with the pursuit of monetary benefits, I would put forth that our capitalist, competitive economy is forcing the majority of Americans to be content with substandard living conditions while they continue to believe the “American Lie.” A truly just society wouldn’t justify class division with the lie of potential success.
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