With all the talk against capitalism, it would be helpful to have a good definition of the term. However, such a definition does not exist. The term’s origin comes from enemies of the free market.
Jesuit economist Bernard Dempsey notes:
“The answer is that there is no such thing as capitalism. The word is 
incapable of scientific definition; it exists only in the Marxist dream world. It should be used ‘only with great reluctance since it is largely a creation of [the] socialist interpretation of history.’ ‘Capitalism is what Marxists are against’ is the only definition that will cover all cases. The term is no more than a socialist dirty word for use in the rough-house of agitation. Only a very foolish general accepts battle on terrain of his adversary’s choice” (Bernard W. Dempsey, S.J., The Functional Economy, The Bases of Economic Organization, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1958, p. 162).