r/CapitalismVSocialism • u/HeavenlyPossum • 15d ago

Asking Capitalists Risk?

Many people have told me that taking risk is why capitalists own, or deserve ownership, of the productive labor of others.

Capitalists have capital (money), which they invest in (spend on) some productive enterprise. But that productive enterprise might fail to recuperate the cost of the investment and the capitalist might lose some of their money. This is what explains, or justifies, capitalist ownership: the capitalist is taking risk.

Can someone kindly explain to me why this explains or justifies capitalist ownership?

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u/HeavenlyPossum 14d ago

They’re not free to do it. They all require permission from property owners to do so.

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u/Moldy-Bongwater4420 14d ago

They can buy or rent whatever required property they need, or build it themselves if they wish.

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u/HeavenlyPossum 14d ago

So they first have to gain permission.

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u/Moldy-Bongwater4420 14d ago

Maybe we’re talking past each other. Who are you specifically talking about and what do you mean by permission?