Our environment and our abilities have changed greatly since the civil philosophy of Socrates was memorialized in Plato’s “Republic”, 380 B.C. And yet, reading the “Republic” in the 21st Century, the intellectual considerations of appropriate and just civil behavior of humans transcend the centuries. “In the book's dialogue, Socrates discusses the meaning of justice and whether or not the just man is happier than the unjust man with various Athenians and foreigners.”(1)
Fortunately, homespun philosophers of today do not risk governmental assassination for a dissident viewpoint as did Socrates. Thus, fearing no threat to my personal well-being, I have offered my own personal philosophy of Exoneratism to anyone who might benefit!!
Americans have as a heritage a relatively youthful and desirable history as a nation, interrupted by such events as the Civil War and race riots to name only a couple. But while not always vocalized, the mood of optimism was cherished. Exoneratism embraces this optimism simply because it is part of the explanation of the uniquely American human condition based on the contemporary results of the evolution of American ideals and desires.
This mood of optimism did pervade the initiation of America’s capitalistic democracy. There was easy access to equanimity. The very checks and balances inherent to the democratic structure of government were synonymous with the desire for equilibrium. Theoretically, no one individual or group could take over completely, no matter how corrupt with power. Optimism of the individual was the important factor in our capitalistic state when our great nation began. Capitalism was simply defined as: “private ownership operated for profit under competitive conditions.”
Optimism has generally declined in our society, as individual owners have seen their profits become concentrated within certain corporations. But Exoneratism exacts merely a balanced system of equity in society, not equal status with other entrepreneurs. The free market atmosphere encourages businesses by allowing supply and demand to determine price and profit. When any segment of the economy falters, in turn a significant rise in profits may be available to other segments theretofore hoarding supplies not in demand. Idealistically capitalism works, but the Exoneratist is not looking at the ideal in a vacuum.
The results after two centuries under a capitalistic democracy vindicate the operational aspect of capitalism, but glaring problems have surfaced and will be discussed next.
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Plato#cite_note-Ancient_name-5
