The Gospel Of Wealth

“The Gospel of Wealth” was an essay written by Andrew Carnegie in 1889, widely regarded as the basis of American philanthropy. The use of the word “Gospel”, which is related to the teachings of Jesusand the Apostles, helped to give considerable weight to his thoughts.
Carnegie was born in 1835 and died in 1919 . He was a poor Scottish young man who became one of the richest American businessmenin the steel industry and one of the most important philanthropist of his era.
His essential message is that with the evolution of civilization comes the inevitable condition of some possessinggreat wealth and others possessing very little. But far from condemning this situation, he said that we should be glad because that indicates a great progress in civilization. Advances in industry hadraised the standard of living for the poorest people even when they had originated a significant level of disparity between the rich and the poor. This brought him to his main point: since Capitalismresults in a few people amassing huge personal fortunes, what is the proper moral use of those fortunes?
In the Gospel, Carnegie sets forth the social responsibility of the wealthy (This, then, is heldto be the duty of the man of wealth: To set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him….)
Carnegie outlines two principles for business people: the charity principle and the stewardship principle. Both are frankly paternalistic because they place businessmen in a parent role andemployees in a child role, assuming that the latter do not have the capacity to act in their own best interests.
According to the charity principle people that become rich through their businesses have anobligation to support less fortunate members of the society. Carnegie believed businesses and wealthy individuals should behave as stewards, or caretakers, employing their money "in trust" for the...