Carnegie's The Gospel Of Wealth

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Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth Andrew Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth in 1889 describing what he thought to be the responsibility of the self-made rich. Carnegie’s writing may be found controversial to some readers. Carnegie’s arguments are found valid for his belief that the wealthy should set a good example to other people in every financial class and is also valid concerning employer/employee relations. His argument is found to be invalid for the reasons that he believes unless you are among what he considers the “fittest” in society you do not have the mental capability of making financial decisions for yourself. Carnegie’s argument is found to be valid because he thought it was important for wealthy men to set an example to others by living a modest life. He believed the wealthy should use their money to benefit the public in ways that would last for many years instead of using it all on personal indulgences for oneself or their family. He did not believe in giving to charities but to “help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all” (p400,401). When this is done, a man will live on forever after his death by the public things he left when he died. Carnegie is remembered for building 2,509 public libraries and Carnegie Hall in New York. Although he passed away ninety-two years ago, his legacy lives on in these great contributions and more. “Most of his remaining wealth went to the Carnegie Corporation and continued his program of public funding” (p391). Carnegie’s ideas of philanthropy are still being practiced today by a number of billionaires that have joined a campaign and pledged to give fifty percent of their wealth to charity. “The Giving Pledge is a campaign to

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