This paper explores the philosophical tension between entitlement and the belief in self-creation. It argues that the myth of the “self-made man” conceals human interdependence and thus breeds entitlement where gratitude and social awareness should exist. Using moral philosophy, sociology, and psychology, it shows that the denial of collective foundations perpetuates inequality and moral distortion in modern life. 1. Introduction Western culture venerates the “self-made man” as an emblem of a...

This paper explores the philosophical tension between entitlement and the belief in self-creation. It argues that the myth of the “self-made man” conceals human interdependence and thus breeds entitlement where gratitude and social awareness should exist. Using moral philosophy, sociology, and psychology, it shows that the denial of collective foundations perpetuates inequality and moral distortion in modern life. 1. Introduction Western culture venerates the “self-made man” as an emblem of a...

The death of soft settlement Why the next reserve standard won’t be a new retail currency—just a better way to finish the biggest deals. The global financial system is discovering a hard truth: settlement is only as strong as the politics underneath it. For decades, the world cleared its largest obligations—energy cargoes, sovereign netting, defense procurement, infrastructure finance—on a “trust us” basis. Trust the institutions to reconcile. Trust the leaders to honor commitments. Trust tha...

The death of soft settlement Why the next reserve standard won’t be a new retail currency—just a better way to finish the biggest deals. The global financial system is discovering a hard truth: settlement is only as strong as the politics underneath it. For decades, the world cleared its largest obligations—energy cargoes, sovereign netting, defense procurement, infrastructure finance—on a “trust us” basis. Trust the institutions to reconcile. Trust the leaders to honor commitments. Trust tha...