Greed 231057 224763714 2008-07-10T09:09:10Z NickBush24 309097 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/12.155.165.98|12.155.165.98]] to last version by 88.105.34.209 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{worldwide}} {{cleanup|date=March 2008}} {{unreferenced|date=April 2008}} [[Image:US_cash_and_skull.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Greed is often associated with death and disease.]] {{otheruses}} '''Greed''' is the [[selfish]] desire for or pursuit of [[money]], [[wealth]], [[Power (sociology)|power]], [[food]], or other [[possessions]], especially when this denies the same goods to others. It is generally considered a [[vice]], and is one of the [[seven deadly sins]] in [[Catholicism]]. ==Definitions== Greed denotes desire to acquire wealth or possessions beyond the needs of the individual, especially when this accumulation of possession denies others legitimate needs or access to those or other resources. For example, amassing a large collection of [[seashell]]s would not be considered greed, unless in doing so, the needs of others were jeopardized. Essential to the concept of greed is the awareness that the needs of others are denied, thus [[rivalrous]] goods exemplify greed while non-rivalrous goods may not. Greed also often involves using wealth to gain power over others, sometimes by denying wealth or power. Some desire to increase one's wealth is nearly universal and acceptable in any culture, but this simple [[want]] is not considered greed. Greed is the extreme form of this desire, especially where one desires things simply for the sake of [[owning]] them (such as the desire to have great amounts of money not to purchase objects, but possession or the money is an end in itself). Greed typically entails acquiring material possessions at the expense of other person's welfare (for example, a father buying himself a new car rather than fix the roof of his family's home) or otherwise reflect priorities. Coveting another person's goods is usually called [[envy]], a word commonly confused with [[jealousy]]. The two words denote opposite forms of greed. We may envy and wish to have the possessions or qualities of another, but we jealously guard the possessions or qualities we believe we have and refuse to share these with others. Greed for food or [[Alcoholism|drink]], combined with excessive indulgence in them, is called [[gluttony]]. Excessive greed for and indulgence in [[sex]] is called [[lust]], although this term no longer carries as negative connotations as it once did. A [[woodcut]] by [[Ugo da Carpi]], is entitled "[[Hercules]] Chasing Avarice from the [[Temple of the Muses]]." [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/wdct/ho_20.24.76.htm]. [[Thomas Aquinas]] metaphorically described the sin of Avarice as "[[Mammon]] being carried up from [[Hell]] by a wolf, coming to inflame the human heart with Greed". Proponents of [[laissez-faire]] [[capitalism]] sometimes argue that greed should not be considered a negative trait and should instead be embraced, as they claim that greed is a profoundly benevolent force in human affairs, as well as a necessary foundation for the capitalist system. Critics have argued this definition confuses greed with [[self-interest]], which can be benign. ==Greed versus happiness== [[Buddhist]]s believe greed is based on incorrectly connecting material wealth with [[happiness]]. This is caused by a view that exaggerates the positive aspects of an object; that is, acquiring material objects has less impact than we imagine on our feelings of happiness. This view has been correlated by studies in the field of [[happiness economics]], which confirm that beyond the provision of a basic level of material comfort, more wealth does not create greater happiness. ==Greed and idolatry== Greed is a form of [[idolatry]], according to the Bible (Colossians 3:5). While some have had difficulty understanding this connection, the most common explanation is that the greedy person values money or possessions more than God. This may also be connected with worship of the [[golden calf]]. Another understanding is that greed serves to bring as many things that the greedy person considers valuables to that person, making him the center of his efforts, the one he aims to please, converting him into his own god, and creating pride with great concentration on the ego. ==Literature== *[[Lewis A. Coser]], ''Greedy [[Institution]]s'', 1974 ==See also== {{wiktionarypar|greed|avarice}} * [[Miser]] * [[Mammon]] * [[Gordon Gekko]] ==External links== * [http://buddhism.kalachakranet.org/attachment.html A View on Buddhism: Attachment] [[Category:Emotion]] [[Category:Vice]] [[Category:Core issues in ethics]] [[gn:Taryrýi]] [[ca:Avarícia]] [[cs:Lakomství]] [[da:Griskhed]] [[de:Habgier]] [[es:Codicia]] [[fr:Avarice]] [[it:Avidità]] [[he:תאוות בצע]] [[la:Avaritia]] [[ms:Ketamakan]] [[nl:Hebzucht]] [[ja:貪]] [[no:Griskhet]] [[oc:Avarícia]] [[pt:Ganância]] [[ru:Алчность]] [[scn:Avarizzia]] [[simple:Greed]] [[sk:Lakomstvo]] [[sv:Girighet]] [[uk:Ненажерливість]] [[zh:貪婪]]