I've come to the realization that the modern world is divided into two distinct and separate moral worlds. The traditional moral world and the commercial moral world.
In the commercial world meritocracy is the primary value. So is diversity, which in turn requires a high level of tolerance and good behavior. The engineer that you have to work with because he is the best, might be an Iranian Shia Muslim and your family are Lebanese Bahai. Commercial morals require you to get along.
None of that happens in the traditional world. You go your separate ways, to separate schools and your paths never cross.
What is the best way to explain the separate morals of commerce and tradition?
My friend David Boxenhorn in Jerusalem suggested the metaphor of friendship. He asks: 'Is it better to hire a friend or to make friends with people you work with?'
To me that does suggest the moral difference. I would virtually never hire a friend. My friends are friends for many reason including loyalty, family, a caring disposition, patience and mutual values. Meritocracy and industriousness are low on the list of values for someone to be my friend.
In the world of commercial values, we fire someone who is unproductive. We don't do that in the traditional world, or the world of unions and government employment. Traditional values respect seniority and loyalty. We keep people as friends long after they have ceased being productive in many ways, if they ever were.
In the commercial world we know that new businesses bring vitality and excitement to a neighborhood as well as new people. Some businesses fail some succeed it depends whether customers are satisfied.
In the traditional world we generally don't want new businesses unless they are local start-ups. We want to protect the businesses we already have. We like the status quo and use the political process to keep new businesses out. We especially keep out businesses that are successful and widely popular.
The commercial world is based on rewards for good behavior. In the traditional world there are rewards and punishments.
Commercial morals operate in a positive sum world where additional commerce and activity means more for everyone. Traditional morals are based on a zero sum world were the growth of one social function must be a loss for another.
Is this discussion helping to make clear the issue of the separate worlds of traditional and commercial morals?