Dictionaries tell me that greed =df.= excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. It’s an avid desire for gain or wealth.
They further inform that corruption =df.= dishonest proceedings; impairment of integrity; inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means (such as bribery); moral perversion; debasement; dissolution; foulness.
We know empirically that greed can lead to corruption, and also that corruption can result in greed. Each can be the cause of the other.
Hence I am wondering if there is a high correlation between them – or just what is the relation, if any??
I also am interested in learning more about the concept: How does immorality arise?
I noticed a discussion of this in M.C. Katz, Ethical Explorations, on p. 24.
http://wadeharvey.myqol.com/wadeharvey/ ... ONS%20.pdf
Rather than expecting anyone to click on the link, I shall quote the text here:
Do any of you have thoughts on these matters?We irrationally try to make an exception to some
moral rule, some ethical principle, on behalf of some
perceived short-term self-interest. This makes as much
sense as driving on the wrong side of the street in traffic.
We know on one side of our brain that we may get smashed up – that is one belief we hold – but another side of our mind, another thing we tell ourselves is: “You’ll get away with it. It’s a gamble, but go ahead and bet that you will slip by!”
Then we listen to that last self-sentence and commit an act we
consciously (or subconsciously) know is immoral. Even though the first belief – the one about the fact that we are heading for a crash -- has justification in the real world, and thus is rational to believe, we play the tape with the volume up higher repeating the second unfounded belief over and over to our-self. It wins out and immorality results.
It rarely if ever occurs to us to ask: Is it possible that my perception could be wrong? Should I maybe change my conceptions and perceptions?
I would like to imbed the three concepts (in the topic title) into a larger framework. I need your help on this project.
Please respond.