This book provides a new explanation of why capitalism succeeds where it does, yet fails to achieve universal welfare as its most vocal proponents claim it ought to. By looking at the issue of the meta-knowledge problem-how disadvantaged people do not know how to find out what knowledge is valuable, where to acquire it, and how to finance it-the book discovers the core reason for enduring poverty of entire communities. The book starts with a core axiom that knowledge is fallible (and meta-knowledge even more so) and discusses the implications of that for ideas in welfare, education, entrepreneurship, banking, law, ethics and religion.

In its Appendix, entitled "A Rationalist's Guide to Religion" the book provides an interpretation of the world's major faiths in light of the fallibility axiom.]]>