A Study On Thought Of Keynes' Economic Ethics

Keynes is the founder of Western Macroeconomics in the 20th century. He's ideology of the economy which occupy the mainstream of economic status, have extraordinary influence to Western economists in nearly half-century. His economics is rich of Ethics Morality: (1) The moral criticism of Economic liberalism. First of all, Keynes criticized the classical economists who advocate of liberal economic policy, In his view, each proposition of the classical economists that the free pursue for interests by individual can promote the interests of the whole community at the same time has no scientific foundation, Laissez-faire economic policies can not achieve automatically adjusted balance. The idea of Classical economists is just a convenient practice rules, with its moral character is not perfect and universal like classical economists advocated, The Classical economics has always pursued economic liberalism should be conclude. Secondly, Keynes revealed the moral limitations of "the economic man" which believed by the classical economists represented by Adam Smith in 19th century. "the economic man" pursue to the interests of the individuals will lead to the deviation of social moral, "the economic man" take on a form of mercenary, venality, greed, like loan-sharking and a miser; Keynes uphold the ideal society of leisure, beauty, grace, passion or diversification, the society is a combination of people who knows how to "enjoy the art of living".(2) Affirm the moral rationality of the country's macro-control. Keynes thinks that the individuals or private enterprises can not control well the direction and to avoid risks in investment, so they always lead to the lost of investment, then the community total effectiveness does riot necessarily increase, and also a waste of resources, the sound development of socio-economic needs the country imply the macro-control and the Investment guide; For another, the large-scale unemployment in modern capitalist society is not a voluntary unemployment of vast number of workers, this unemployment can not rely on the "invisible hand" to control automatically, The states have to play a "moral" role, to carry out the public investment, fulfill the cause of to achieve full-employment; from this point of view, Keynes confirmed the moral values of "visible hand": the national macro-control. (3) Maintain the humanitarian ideas of full-employment. Keynes thinks that the unemployment would make the workers fall into a deeper hardship, in order to help workers out of the fate of unemployment, the Government can take a variety of public investment, As long as we can solve the unemployment problem, the activities that even like an investment for Ancient Egypt to construct the pyramid, or the search for precious metals which all better than let workers lost their jobs. Borrowing by the state to increase investment can increase the employment, thus improving the people's life; the views of Keynes fully reflect his humanitarian ideas.(4) Demonstrated the non-moral quality of frugality and the moral quality of high-consumption: Keynes believe that in a modern society, frugality always makes the production and reproduction of whole society can not be successful, Frugality is the major cause of the unemployment for workers. Therefore, in a modern market economy, the frugality is non-moral; But a positive consumer will contribute to the promotion of social reproduction of a successful progress, in favor of the broad masses of workers in employment, As a result, both the positive consumer, and even the high-consumption, have strong moral qualities. (5) Advocate the social justice. Keynes believes that the significant shortcomings of the economic society which we lived by, are unable to provide full-employment and the unfair, unreasonable distribution of wealth and income. Keynes thinks that the uneven distribution of wealth, which leads some people to get interest without payment or without working. It is fair and reasonable that in the same condition, all members of society should develop their wisdom, decision-making, administrative capacity for social service.This author elaborated the Keynes Economic Ethics comprehensively and systematically in this paper, on the basis of looking for the full documentation. It demonstrates the need for researching the thinking of Keynesian economic ethics. It also put emphases on analyzing the actual conditions and sources of theory of Keynesian economic thinking, and reveals the main content contained in the Keynesian economic thinking. Fully reveals the characteristic of "humanitarian utilitarian", the core of which is the ideas Keynes advocates full employment. It demonstrated the non-ethical nature of thrift and ethical nature of the high consumption which were advocated by Keynes. Then it guides people to foster a correct consumptive view. Try to analyze and evaluate the limitations and the reasonableness of Keynesian economic thinking objectively and historically.Keynesian economic ethics reflected the track of people's values and ethical changes in the countries of Western Europe in the 20th century, during when the capitalist market economy was in transition. It revealed the moral principles and ethical of order by which the system of capitalist market economy must abide, when it needs effective functioning. Market economy has the same regularity. It will make positive significance in regulating the socialist market economy when it quotes from Keynes Economic Ethics in a reasonable and positive content. The Keynesian economic thinking will provide a very useful inspiration on the ethics reform and renewal of China's traditional ethics of the economy and on how to promote the healthy economy of China's socialist market and even the global economy.The article tried to be reasonable and with logical structure, coherent. However, on behalf of my level of knowledge is limited, there is still something imperfect. I will go on further study.