Self-Interest, Competitiveness, Will to Power, Capitalism

The frequently accepted interchangeability of Self-Interest and Competitiveness in Capitalist theories tends to abstract from a significant factor. For, while the goal of each is some personal satisfaction, that of the former can be sufficiently achieved by the acquisition of some object, e. g. food, essential to that of the latter is a victory over others, and, hence, unlike that of the former, the involvement of others. In other words, receiving a reward and outperforming a rival are often distinguishable in one and the same game, a distinction not explained by the presumed interchangeability. In contrast, a psychological drive that is more adequate to Competitiveness is the Will to Power, a necessary feature of which is the overcoming of resistance per se. However, contemporary Capitalists who have sought support from Nietzsche in that respect overlook that in its superior manifestations, Will to Power becomes Self-Overcoming, i. e. Self-Control, and, perhaps, a Will to Empower others, neither of which is necessarily a means to the maximization of Wealth. So, Competitiveness remains without adequate psychological grounding in Capitalist models.