Topic 4. Capitalism

12/11/13

Outline Motions Arguing against Capitalism Arguing in favour

Against Capitalism Conception of capitalism – it must

always grow – encounter barriers – circumvent them

The assembly of things – and the subsequent selling – Barriers

Harms

How do we make and sell commodities?

1.) Assemble Capital and Labour = commodity + profit: Barriers – 1)Capital 2)Find Labour that is cheap and disciplined

How do we make and sell commodities?2.) Produce good in an efficient and productive manor. Barrier – skilled and disciplined labour

How do we make and sell commodities?3) Need to turn our commodity into profit: Antagonism between production and consumption.

Harms – Or pernicious necessary features of capitalism, in its

current form, to overcome its internal contradictions

1. The crisis of over accumulation (to slide 1) – see change since 1970’s – where do we go? Technology

2. Monopoly – 1) Barriers to entry 2) Political power

3. Alienation4. Culture Industry critique: 1) Dependency

needs 2)5. Environment gets fucked6. Profit motive everywhere in society?

Capitalism ain’t that bad – I got some sick shoes 1) partially conceded case – argue for a

more liberal sympathetic view of capitalism.

2) Capitalisms good points 3) Why the comparative is awful

Capitalism rocks our socks off1) Be uber nice capitalists: What does this

mean * Equality requires a cost2) Maybe curb the excesses of capital –

i.e. externalities

Capitalism rocks our socks off (2) Human Nature – we work for self

interest – unleash this creatively – incentive to work – innovation – patents – we’ve made shit loads of cool stuff

Choice – capitalism plays to our individual choice – really cool for minority groups

Capitalism rocks our socks off (3) Equality: Tax, Trickle down Capitalism and Freedom: Separation

between economic and political power