The Gospel of Wealth

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The Gospel of Wealth is an 1889 essay by industrialist Andrew Carnegie that argues the rich have a moral obligation to distribute their fortunes for the benefit of society.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf essay
non-fiction work
philosophical text
advocates philanthropy by the wealthy
using surplus wealth to benefit society
alsoKnownAs Wealth
argues inequality can be beneficial if wealth is properly distributed
associatedWith Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropic programs
Gilded Age
author Andrew Carnegie
centralClaim the rich have a moral obligation to use their wealth for the public good
countryOfOrigin United States
ethicalPosition wealth is a trust to be administered for society
genre economic essay
political philosophy
historicalContext industrialization in the late 19th century United States
impact provided ideological justification for large-scale philanthropy
shaped public expectations of wealthy industrialists
influenced 20th-century philanthropic foundations
modern philanthropy
influencedBy Social Darwinism
laissez-faire capitalism
keyConcept duty of the millionaire
stewardship of wealth
surplus wealth
language English
mainSubject capitalism
inequality
philanthropy
social responsibility
wealth
opposes indiscriminate charity
leaving large inheritances to heirs
originallyPublishedIn North American Review
philosophicalStance elitist stewardship of resources
pro-capitalist
proposes administering wealth during one’s lifetime
publicationYear 1889
recommends funding educational institutions
funding libraries
funding public institutions that help people help themselves
relatedConcept Carnegie libraries
scientific philanthropy
relatedWork Andrew Carnegie’s philanthropic endowments
states inequality is an inevitable result of capitalism
timePeriod Gilded Age United States

Referenced by (4)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Andrew Carnegie
authored
Louise Whitfield ("Andrew Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth")
influencedBy
Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie ("Gospel of Wealth")
mainSubject
Andrew Carnegie ("The Gospel of Wealth (doctrine of philanthropy)")
notableIdea

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