Spongebob & Philosophy: Mr. Krabs and the True Value of a Dollar

Joey Singer

H0-3

In the Chapter "Mr. Krabs and the True Value of a Dollar" by Joseph J. Foy in Spongebob Squarepants & Philosophy:  Soaking Up Secrets Under the Sea! the ideologies of Mr. Krabs' character are evaluated, determining the true purpose behind all of Mr. Krabs' questionable actions.

Looking on the positive side of Mr. Krabs as a character, we're able to identify that the admirable qualities in Mr. Krabs rely in his intellect to produce and develop the most highly sought after sandwich/formula in all of Bikini Bottom. Some philosophers, such as Ayn Rand, would argue that other traits of Mr. Krabs that would be critiqued, such as his selfishness, singular obsession with money, and being cheap - aren’t necessarily a detriment to his character.

Through her novel, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand articulates how the value of money goes far beyond mere rate of exchange. She writes, “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver. It will give you the means for the satisfaction of your desires, but it will not provide you with desires,” viewing that, “money is the root of all good. Rand glorifies individuals such as Mr. Krabs who live their lives in pursuit of their own interests. She believes that systems that promote equality and restrict one’s ability to pursue wealth for their own use destroys creativity to the point of mediocrity.

However, on the other end of the spectrum we uncover what makes Krabs the borderline antagonist character of the series who's primarily featured as a good person. For example, he's taken advantage of those accustomed to “Fantasyland” by earning spare change from installing a wishing well, knowing it’s a scam from the start. In the episode Krabby Land, he targeted a younger demographic by over-exaggerating a cheap excuse for an amusement park, deceiving children for profit. In the episode “Endless Summer,” Krabs engaged in polluting the atmosphere in order to make more money off his newly opened swimming pool during the summer. On top of that, he destroyed the entire population of jellyfish in Jellyfish Fields to harvest them for a new Krabby Patty Jelly sauce.

Krabs even commits despicable acts directly towards his employees. He's forced Spongebob and Squidward to work 24-hour shifts (Graveyard Shift, Fear of a Krabby Patty), and charges them to even work at the Krusty Krab (Squid on Strike). According to German philosopher Karl Marx, Mr. Krabs is guilty of commodifying his fellow employees, meaning he views them as important only as long as they serve his commercial interests. Similarly, Krabs dehumanizes his customers, saying “That’s me money walkin’ out the door!” whenever patrons leave the Krusty Krab without buying anything.

When analyzing intrinsic vs. instrumental goods, intrinsic goods are things that are good for their own sake, such as what we define as happiness. As for instrumental goods, they are thought of as tools whose value is found in their ability to help us achieve some other end. Krabs often defines money in an intrinsic way, such as in “Money Talks,”  where Krabs wishes to talk to his money, but dreams turn against him when they'd rather be used properly, rather than something valued for its own sake.

Krabs doesn’t come off as inherently bad as his actions make him out to be, rather he seems to lack a true knowledge of what would make himself truly happy. He’s never taken the time to evaluate what’s truly important in his life, and rather than seeing him as a nefarious cheapskate he can be viewed as a tragically unfulfilled individual who is blind to the means of achieving his own happiness. Wealth is valuable because it affords a life we wish to live. Without a true understanding of oneself and what’s important to achieve happiness, there is a danger we will chase more material wealth to the point of taking us farther away from the happiness we seek, such is the fate of Mr. Krabs.

Quiz Questions:

1. Who initially supported Krab’s pursuit of self interest?

2. What’s an instrumental good?

3. What population did Mr. Krab’s nearly decimate for profit?

4. Which philosopher identified the understanding of commodity?

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think Mr. Krab’s love for money could reach a point of being viewed as an instrumental good without needing to be spent?


2. Do you think one could be truly happy simply off the pursuit of wealth without a clear goal in mind?

Sources:

Spongebob Squarepants & Philosophy: Soaking Up Secrets Under the Sea! by Joseph J. Foy

Atlas Shrugged