The Basics of Capitalist Theory - or: has anyone read "The W

[Acolyte Of Death]

What is it? How do you define capitalism?

When talking about capitalism we must speak of it on purely theoretical terms, not in terms of application, the same as we speak of communism or anarchism - as such systems have not yet come into being with non-hunter/gatherer societies. This ensures that we are unbiased and can treat both systems equally, on theoretical levels. It is as unfair to capitalist theory to judge it on real grounds as it is to judge communist theory on real grounds - both have, in essence, failed in attempts at application thus far.

Now that we have set the standard, let us begin to compare communist socio-economic-political theory to that of capitalism.

[187]

"An economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development is proportionate to the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market."

Also..

- Individual over society
- Competition leads to progression
- You are what you own

[redstar2000]

When talking about capitalism we must speak of it on purely theoretical terms...

My impression is that Marx actually did that in the pages of Capital.

This rather dense work is not much read nowadays...but is certainly still in print and readily available for anyone who wishes to undertake such a formidable enterprise.

But it is difficult to generate much interest in an abstract "laboratory capitalism"...the real thing presses on us too hard.

:cool:

[Acolyte Of Death]

True, but as communism is a theoretical system, it is only fair to deal with its counterpart theoretically, to see if capitalism has any theoretical failings.