Is capitalism inherently harmful or morally wrong?
No.
Capitalism is problem-solving. That’s it. It requires rationality. This is how wealth (capital) is created. Problem-solving is not necessarily immoral, but, because of the wealth it creates, it can provoke it.
There are dishonest and self-serving people everywhere. They are, in contrast to the problem-solvers, dysrational. They serve themselves, which is inherently immoral. The heart or engine of this self-serving behavior is a process called operant conditioning. It is a central aspect of our non-rational, primitive brain.
Unfortunately, capital (wealth) seriously provokes the greed or needs (the operant conditioning behavior) of dysrational people.
Nevertheless, do not conflate the two. Civilization cannot exist without capitalism (and individual freedom). And do not demand Utopia; otherwise, you and your civilization will be destroyed.
Mosquito Coast (Paul Theroux) was about just that. It is an amazing book and movie. One of my favorites. Must watch.
