WHY is it said that the root of all evil is a love of money?

[PLAYER57832]

First, note that it is the love of money, not money itself that is described.
Also, I am not questioning or wanting to debate the source, mostly the Bible (though I am sure it is found in other texts). We have a lot of threads about "the Bible is hoakum/the Bible is fundamental truth" -- I just want to talk about the idea itself, becaue it has become
something of a fundament of thought in our society.

Why would such a pronouncement be made? What happens when one loves money that might turn a person evil? What would the evidence of it be? What types of decisions? How does our society today differ... or does it?

[Army of GOD]

I would think that a love of money is just as much a cause of evil as like, say, a love of religion. Or a love of anything, really.

[Funkyterrance]

I would think that a love of money is just as much a cause of evil as like, say, a love of religion. Or a love of anything, really.

I disagree as money has no intrinsic value. Many other things do.

[PLAYER57832]

I would think that a love of money is just as much a cause of evil as like, say, a love of religion. Or a love of anything, really.

So you are saying that strong feelings about anything are the roots of evil?

I would think that a love of money is just as much a cause of evil as like, say, a love of religion. Or a love of anything, really.

I disagree as money has no intrinsic value. Many other things do.

Not sure why this is significant to the question? That is, are you saying that money is just not the root of evil or making another statement?

Interesting, either way.. just not sure what you are trying to say.

[Army of GOD]

I would think that a love of money is just as much a cause of evil as like, say, a love of religion. Or a love of anything, really.

So you are saying that strong feelings about anything are the roots of evil?

Pretty much.

And what does money having no intrinsic value have to do with anything?

[Funkyterrance]

And what does money having no intrinsic value have to do with anything?

You serious?

[PLAYER57832]

My feeling is that money is used to purchase things, mostly immediate needs and wants. It allows you to pursue immediate desires instead of looking more long term. It can hide impacts of ills you do in that way.

You buy a drink, feel good.. and ignore that you have to drive home and that the trip might be dangerous. Or you say " well.. I will just sleep with this guy/gal this one night, because I want xyz".. and ignore that you might get pregnant or get a disease or any other impact.

Also, its a subtlety, but again, its not money itself, but the love of money that is the ill. Money is just a means of transferring value. Easier to carry a pocket of money (or debit card, in today's world) than bags of wheat. That's practical, nothing inherently wrong.

BUT... if your goal becomes the pursuit of money, in itself, as opposed to achieving some goal that requires money, then a different dynamic enters. You no longer care as much about the results -- either what happens to get that money or what you will do with it. OR, maybe its just that the "love of money" is hiding a love of the power and immediate gratification that having money can provide?

[Army of GOD]

And what does money having no intrinsic value have to do with anything?

You serious?

[GreecePwns]

Ain't nuttin' more important than the mula.

[BigBallinStalin]

My feeling is that money is used to purchase things, mostly immediate needs and wants. It allows you to pursue immediate desires instead of looking more long term. It can hide impacts of ills you do in that way.

Money allows you to do both...
(long-term and short-term).


So, it's not money, or the love of money, that's the problem here. The 'problem' which you envision is having a high time preference (i.e. "I want it, and I want it now"), which is not in all cases a problem. Regarding the love of money, it doesn't matter if the thing wanted was money to buy X, Y, and Z. It could've been potatoes, which would be exchanged for X, Y, and Z in some barter economy.

[PLAYER57832]

My feeling is that money is used to purchase things, mostly immediate needs and wants. It allows you to pursue immediate desires instead of looking more long term. It can hide impacts of ills you do in that way.

Money allows you to do both...
(long-term and short-term).


So, it's not money, or the love of money, that's the problem here. The 'problem' which you envision is having a high time preference (i.e. "I want it, and I want it now"), which is not in all cases a problem. Regarding the love of money, it doesn't matter if the thing wanted was money to buy X, Y, and Z. It could've been potatoes, which would be exchanged for X, Y, and Z in some barter economy.

My point was that money makes getting what you want NOW possible.

If you have to go out and raise the food you want, or make some product to trade, then it takes a lot more time.

[BigBallinStalin]

My feeling is that money is used to purchase things, mostly immediate needs and wants. It allows you to pursue immediate desires instead of looking more long term. It can hide impacts of ills you do in that way.

Money allows you to do both...
(long-term and short-term).


So, it's not money, or the love of money, that's the problem here. The 'problem' which you envision is having a high time preference (i.e. "I want it, and I want it now"), which is not in all cases a problem. Regarding the love of money, it doesn't matter if the thing wanted was money to buy X, Y, and Z. It could've been potatoes, which would be exchanged for X, Y, and Z in some barter economy.

My point was that money makes getting what you want NOW possible.

If you have to go out and raise the food you want, or make some product to trade, then it takes a lot more time.

Sure, money reduces transaction costs--but so do credit cards, and so do cars (reduced time to get to place A to buy X), so instead of blaming money, why not blame cars, banks, etc.?
(because it's not about money, it's about having a high time preference).

And your second sentence isn't necessarily true. You could be some farmer who gets paid by the day in potatoes, which you then trade for whatever good you want...
(hell, you could even have potatoes on a credit card, and transfer money that way).

Sorry, but the criticism against money itself--or "the love of money"--isn't holding up.

[tzor]

I'll keep this simple, as I have to go to a NaNaWriMo kickoff meeting in an hour and it's about an hour away.

First we need to get word definitions right. Love is a highly fungable word. We can "love" chocolate. We can also obsess over chocolate.

I have the feeling that it is the later. Money can be considered the universal medium to acquire property; it's highly fungable as you can buy all sorts of property with money,

Thus the obesssion with money, the ability to acquire things on demand, leads ones towards the self at the exclusion of others. Thus evil, the ability to hurt others for personal gain, in part is driven by the biggest medium of personal gain, money.

Does that make sense?

[PLAYER57832]

My feeling is that money is used to purchase things, mostly immediate needs and wants. It allows you to pursue immediate desires instead of looking more long term. It can hide impacts of ills you do in that way.

Money allows you to do both...
(long-term and short-term).


So, it's not money, or the love of money, that's the problem here. The 'problem' which you envision is having a high time preference (i.e. "I want it, and I want it now"), which is not in all cases a problem. Regarding the love of money, it doesn't matter if the thing wanted was money to buy X, Y, and Z. It could've been potatoes, which would be exchanged for X, Y, and Z in some barter economy.

My point was that money makes getting what you want NOW possible.

If you have to go out and raise the food you want, or make some product to trade, then it takes a lot more time.

Sure, money reduces transaction costs--but so do credit cards, and so do cars (reduced time to get to place A to buy X), so instead of blaming money, why not blame cars, banks, etc.?
(because it's not about money, it's about having a high time preference).

None of those were available at the time this was written down.
Also, credit, etc are really just different types of money.

And your second sentence isn't necessarily true. You could be some farmer who gets paid by the day in potatoes, which you then trade for whatever good you want...
(hell, you could even have potatoes on a credit card, and transfer money that way).

IF you have already taken the time to grow the potatoes. Money gained through trade of goods is generally quicker -- the time of transport. Dependent generally upon producers. Today, though a lot of money is not directly linked to any product or service, its just money to those acquiring it.

Sorry, but the criticism against money itself--or "the love of money"--isn't holding up.

I am talking about a famous saying and why it has for so long been held in regard.
I am not criticizing money, nor is the saying.
If you don't think the saying is true, that is a valid opinion, of course. However, you are acting as if this were my own personal saying and a recent one at that, and it isn't.

[PLAYER57832]

I'll keep this simple, as I have to go to a NaNaWriMo kickoff meeting in an hour and it's about an hour away.

First we need to get word definitions right. Love is a highly fungable word. We can "love" chocolate. We can also obsess over chocolate.

I have the feeling that it is the later. Money can be considered the universal medium to acquire property; it's highly fungable as you can buy all sorts of property with money,

Thus the obesssion with money, the ability to acquire things on demand, leads ones towards the self at the exclusion of others. Thus evil, the ability to hurt others for personal gain, in part is driven by the biggest medium of personal gain, money.

Does that make sense?

Yes, and Thank you. I tend to agree with you on the analysis, but beyond that, I appreciate your answering/discussing the question itself.

Do you think this is actually a true fear? or is it something that maybe was a fear and is not now? (and I realize you cannot answer right now)