I think the default state is ignorance, not malevolent indifferen e. I could be wrong. Also, I don't know anyone who has an iPhone for the social capital. Not to say that it's not the case for some glitterati, whether they be the wives Chinese central bankers (can't find the link about this group of Apple obsessive) or fifteen year old girls. But I don't know anyone who gives a shit what phone you have.

But your point as to the sorry state of conscientiousness in this day age, I half agree with. I'm both affirmed and disgusted in my everyday interactions with how self-interested people are. But it doesn't matter. I don't see how, as an individual who strives to be self-aware, I have any choice but to be the difference I want to see in the world. So my hands are tied, whether or not the masses of humanity can't be bothered. Though I will say, I have a lot of sympathy for the masses, because life is hard enough without the myriad predatory schemes in place making it harder. But I see people regularly making stands about "ethics" both in the abstract and the concrete.