A few days ago, I was telling one of my friends that we should read the great books—works such as The Republic, Nicomachean Ethics, and other classics. His reply perfectly reflected the mindset of today’s capitalist world. He asked, “Will reading these books get me a job? Will they make me money?”

Today, our mindset has become so money-oriented and materialistic that we see almost everything merely as a means to obtain something else. We have almost forgotten that life contains many beautiful things that are complete in themselves. Reading a great book, for example, is valuable in itself. It is a source of profound joy, a higher form of pleasure, and an end in itself rather than merely a means to another end.

It is worth reflecting on how capitalism has turned almost everything into a means—whether it is reading literature, maintaining relationships, or making friends.

Let us begin with education. In the past, the purpose of education was to cultivate moral character, rational thinking, and the pursuit of truth. That is why philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Epictetus lived simple lives, often away from luxury, seeking wisdom in solitude. They read books that helped them understand truth, ethics, society, and politics.

Today, however, the purpose of education has largely been reduced to getting a job. From childhood, children are taught that their ultimate goal is to secure a high-paying career. Success is increasingly defined in terms of earning more money and acquiring more material possessions. As a result, people rush toward degrees that promise financial rewards, while philosophy, ethics, and the humanities are gradually losing their place.

Few people aspire to become philosophers or thinkers because such paths do not usually lead to wealth. Few seek truth because it rarely brings public praise or social prestige. Likewise, many people hesitate to write or struggle against injustice—as thinkers such as Marx and Ambedkar did—because they value the comfort of their own lives more than the pursuit of justice.

The same transformation can be seen in human relationships. Earlier, relationships were built on love, trust, and truth. Friendship was based on a meeting of minds and shared values. But capitalism has increasingly encouraged people to evaluate relationships in terms of personal gain.

A father-son relationship is often viewed through the lens of inheritance and property. Friendships, too, are sometimes shaped by flattery and self-interest. Instead of asking whether someone shares our values and ideas, we often ask what benefit we can gain from knowing them.

In this way, capitalism has taken away beauty, love, humanity, and the intrinsic value of life, turning human beings into slaves of money.