Contemporary Political Philosophy: What is Socialism?
As a mainstream contemporary political philosophy, it is worth answering the all too common question: what is Socialism? While different variants have emerged, there are a few core elements that must be noted. If one understands all main political ideologies, then he or she will be far more prepared to discover which he or she identifies with. Socialism Defined Socialists have very different views on the individual than their Conservative and Liberal opponents. They do not agree with the Conservative perception of the individual as a being capable of evil, nor do they identify with the Liberal perception that individuals are self-interested. Socialism quite simply believes that the individual is a social being. Socialists are also displeased with the capitalists system. They believe it has exploitative potential, both within developed and developing nations. Further, the competitive essence of the capitalist system threatens the very cooperative nature of humanity. This system can caus
