Question: did greed an exploitation exist pre-capitalism? ; a few brief thoughts I wanted to share

Yes! They existed in pre-capitalist societies (e.g., feudalism, mercantilism) but I must stress that capitalism transforms these tendencies into structural imperatives

Second, it seems implied that these are pre of human nature. I do not agree; while these traits may have existed historically, capitalism naturalizes them as inevitable, obscuring the possibility of alternative social arrangements. For me, capitalism doesn’t merely reflect human nature—it actively shapes and reinforces a specific version of human nature aligned with its logic.

Third point; let’s reflect on isolated acts of greed (possible in any era) and a system that rewards and necessitates such behavior. Pre-capitalist societies might have had exploitative hierarchies, but capitalism uniquely embeds a “dog-eat-dog” ethos into economic and cultural life, making empathy a liability in contexts like labor markets or corporate governance.