I'm fed up with the use of "greed" as an argument

I am completely fed-up with the use of "greed' as a form of valid argument. To me it signifies intellectual  and moral turpitude because it suggests "I'm not greedy, but look at those awful people who are" and has the arrogance of certitude to boot, and  yes, it (emotionally) pisses me off.

The following is a response to  an individual who goes m\by the moniker of "patriot" in this thread.The original post keeps disappearing due to faults in blogger's doftware. The issue was reported here.
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patriot, (and patriots everywhere)

It would serve yo well to get off your moral high horse -- if, that is, the claim that you seek to "educate" yourself is actually true. I don't know, because I'm not you.

I do enjoy writing about topics which delve into the intersection of neuroscience and economics, and applied to the spontaneous order of markets (financial, social, and cultural) because they are areas of immense importance to me.

I am a strict materialist (everything is made up of "stuff"), unapologetic reductionist (phenomenon can be objectively explained, it's only a matter of figuring out how to), and an uncompromising non-dualist (there is only this world and no other "mystical realms").

These philosophical/ intellectual positions are based on tried and proven hypotheses which have been tested over and over again not by little ol' insignificant me - who can only use my skepticism to evaluate claims, but by intellectual giants I can only marvel in awe and envy at.

Human cognitive biases (see previous link), patternicity and agency detection are present in us. They result from the structure and function of our brains. As quirky and error-prone as they are part of what constitutes our "human nature", and they have served some evolutionary purposes which is (probably) why we still have them.

1. Our human nature therefore is "imperfect" due to our neurology, which has an evolutionary history

2. We exist in time, and our actions occur in time.

3. We know we are mortal and are "time sensitive" -- i.e. we want it NOW rather than LATER. This is the way our consciousness is biased. You can't help it. The only way around this is by being aware, and using certain tools -- like the Scientific Method to "neutralise" our natural cognitive biases.

4. Being naturally "impatient" we are incentivised to "cut corners" if we recognize an opportunity to do so. This is the point where you can start to observe what you call "greed" and I call "an aspect of human nature" -- humans taking action to create desired "future states" whilst "economizing" on resources.

e.g. of "greed": I want it now whatever "it" happens to be: wealth, power, sex. And so, if unrestrained I will proceed to get "it" in the most "economical way" possible -- i.e. by lying, cheating, manipulation, deceit, subtefuge, extortion, murder, theft...you get the picture. The alternative is too costly: I have to work for it,I have to save for it, I have to aquire knowledge and resources, plan the use of those resources, monitor the progress, then communicate, persuade and trade with others - value-for-value...aiyah...too hard lah!

5. The reason we have institutions of private property, The Rule Of Law, and the respect for contract is to ensure that everyone pays for what they want, no one (including and ESPECIALLY governments) is above the law, and that the tendency of humans to "cut corners" is moderated by more expensive "consequences". Life is hard and unequal -- eveyone has to deal with it -- but no one is allowed to "get theirs" at the expense of someone else, just because they succumb to their "greed".

If you have 1 hr for your "education", this is explained by a person far smarter than I am HERE. I encourage you to listen.

Should you be inclined to seek a better, more scientific explanation for why we act the way we do, I recommend 2 EXCELLENT books:

1. The Invisible Gorilla
2.Stumbling On Happiness

For a great primer into neuroscience (dealing with the function and structure of our brain), the 4 part BBC Series Brain Story is one of the best presentations.

Our understanding of the human brain is far from complete. Although we don;t yet "know it all", we can do pretty darn well with what we know so far.

Best wishes,