Posted: Jul 24, 2012 5:02 pm
Jakov wrote:3. http://www.marxist.com/capitalism-versus-science.htmThe most recent and blatant example of private ownership serving as a barrier to advancement can be found in the Ida fossil. Darwinius masillae is a 47 million year old lemur that was recently “discovered”. Anyone and everyone interested in evolution cheered at the unveiling of a transitional species, linking upper primates and lower mammals.
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So what does Ida have to do with capitalism? Well, she was actually unearthed in 1983 and has been held by a private collector ever since. The collector didn’t realize the significance of the fossil (not surprising since he is not a paleontologist) and so it just collected dust for 25 years.
Please tell me that's not the kind of weak crap they're relying on to promote an anti-capitalist agenda. What is the cost to advancement? To peoples well-being?
The biggest and most problematic example of private ownership being a barrier to advancement is the patent system and its abuse. In the areas of medicine and information technology, the problems and costs in this sector are legion. Any given court case involving this issue is the most recent example of the problem of private ownership hindering advancement.
There is no competition between copyright and a fossil.