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The other one I like (that's a corollary to this) is something like "most of the time, we make our own luck."
I take nothing away from the inventor - but it's the businessman who actually brings the product to the masses.
Who really does the greater good?
(One of AR's central premises!)
See my reply below if you're interested.
(Big smile and a proffered hand.)
And then Edison crushed Tesla and trashed Westinghouse over the argument about AC vs. DC current. Fortunately AC won out but Tesla was pretty much broke.
In fact, I don't think Ayn Rand would favor "business" over invention. Business is the looters side, invention is production.
But yes, the businessman - through production - gets the product, whatever it might be, to the people.
An artist, without a distributor, dies unknown. An inventor, without a business to mass produce, creates a curiosity.
Businessmen, no one else, are the most socially beneficial people. THEY change the world for all men.
I'm sure you're familiar with the ability pyramid analogy Rand used to describe the greatest contributors of value to the rest of mankind; and who are the greatest benefactors. Businessmen aren't the only men on the pyramid, nor are they the only ones at the top -- I'm sure some belong at the bottom or worse (not on it at all).
I think we should judge each individual, not an entire class of people, if we wish to make such a comparison as where one belongs on the contributory pyramid. I am hard pressed in to figuring out why placing people on the pyramid is a desirable end in itself. What do we gain by such comparison?
Business is not based on invention. I don't think Sam Walton ever invented anything (I could be wrong - I often am.) But he did more to help the poor than any man alive. Thanks to his relentless pursuit of efficiency I can pay the same for a pair of shoes in 2014 that I paid in 1974. That's a hell of a thing to say.
I was mainly responding to the usual comparison of Tesla vs Edison. The brutalized genius vs the robber-baron of electricity.
I give Tesla his full due. How can you not? He was one of the greatest minds in history.
But I also remember 10,000 things that don't make a light bulb filament.
---
You know Dean Kamen? He invented the Segway. It was supposed to change the world. He also invented a wheelchair rolls over sand and gravel, climbs stairs and even raises the occupant up to full "standing" height to reach items on the top shelf - or look another person eye-to-eye. That was supposed to change the world, too.
I'm not bad mouthing Kamen. I'm neither an inventor nor a businessman. I am social ballast. But I wish - I truly wish - Kamen was more of an Edison than a Tesla.
An inventor without a businessman is a sad damn thing.
I guess I am missing your point. Is it to praise the businessman higher on the moral standard of the common good?
I admire Tesla's genius but Edison changed the world. With his business acumen even MORE than his inestimable technological contributions. Again, he not only invented movies - he made sure I saw them.
What can I say, ILove the guy!
I think the market is the judge we are the jurors, the judge listens to the jury. I can't honestly try and sell you something you don't want or need, you are the judge of that. The market decides and is the judge of its own value based on what the "jurors" are willing to offer. Like what the market will bear, or how much is that worth I don't know let the market decide, or let the market be the judge. That's how I understand it I hope it explain my point.
But, there is far too much "business" that takes advantage of others, even when it's legal. Where I am a local computer company locked up all the local market media ISPs and charged ridiculous amounts of money so stations could have their call sign and / or frequency in their web address.
They neither "invented" anything, nor performed a service. They simply positioned themselves to extort money from local (back then some stations were still locally owned) and marginal (like college & religions stations) operations.
Eventually stations either paid the money or came up with other catchy names for their websites.
But, that's "business."
Sorry but I love this kinda of stuff, I thinks it's passion for a propose, and a lot of hard work with good people yields good luck and results.
Something like: You can make a living in 8 hours, but it takes the rest of the day working and dreaming to get rich..