How would you describe capitalism as a political economic system? What are some of its benefits? What are some of its weaknesses? Does "human nature" exist, and is capitalism the economic system most consistent with it?

Your answer might (but doesn't necessarily need to) touch on the following themes:

• The role of competition, command, and change
• The labor process and the division of labor
• Increases in productivity + the enrichment of material life
• Income inequality
• Conflict over the surplus product
• Climate change
• The uses of time in non-capitalist societies and the scarcity of free time in capitalist society
• Self-interested behavior vs. cooperative behaviorand how different economic systems incentivizethem
• Conspicuous consumption and ostentatious displays of wealth vs. egalitarian distribution of resources