Anti-Capitalist Chronicles: Human Life vs. Capital Accumulation

[S2 E05] Human Life vs. Capital Accumulation
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In this episode, Prof. Harvey explores what the continuity of endless capital accumulation means to the continuity of human life.
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[@allypoum]

Always make an audible cry of joy when I get a notification for one of these. Thanks for your valuable work Prof!

[@dragoscoco2173]

Let's not forget that abolishing the family unit is core to Marxism. :))))))))

[@allypoum]

@@dragoscoco2173 Rubbish. In fact Marx has frequently been criticised by feminists & others over his support for 'traditional' family structures. Conclusion: you need to work harder on your trolling bro...

[@non-standardproletarian3356]

@@dragoscoco2173 Yeah, cuz sending kids to factories to work is a great way to keep a loving family tight.

[@Bisquick]

@@allypoum Maybe I was wrong in my interpretation but I feel like Dragos here was joking about the dumb "cultural marxist" stuff propagating the internet. I guess it's good to clarify regardless.

[@allypoum]

Bisquick Hope you’re right & if u were I guess I was triggered...;-)

[@non-standardproletarian3356]

It was so good to hear you qualify ceteris paribus ("all other things being equal"). Far too often economists, particularly pro-capitalist economists, falsely insulate their pet logical problem (a 'variable') within this notion so their conclusions can attain the mystique of logical validity while ignoring the rest of our messy lives. Perhaps this is why there are so many 'unintended consequences,' 'collateral damage' and can never predict crashes. Just a thought. Thanks again!

[@rocketsurgeon5758]

While I was in college I had a friend going through business school. Once he was explaining, or more like boasting, about _ceteris paribus_ being the "motto" of business. I asked him if he was sure it wasn't _caveat emptor_ (let the buyer beware). I remember he misspoke it as something like "cerberus plerberus," and I, not being one to correct someone's Latin in the 21st century, simply imagined the three-headed guard dog of Hades and had a good laugh. There is something quite fitting about capitalism and hell.

[@totonow6955]

I get the image of the need to freeze then seek to inch back out of a mine field but at the same time we are set upon on all sides and need to hurry for cover. Many don't even realize we are in a mine field or think they have a magic goose coming to whisk only themselves away. But, if we worked together we could find a way to carry one by one out on specific paths but getting this message across quickly and avoiding a panic and chaotic retreat seems absolutely key.

[@roblikesoutdoorstuff]

Brilliant conversation.

[@patrickmazza7055]

As I sit in my Seattle apartment, a 67 year old hiding out from the coronavirus, I can’t help but think that a great place to begin removing the profit/capital accumulation framework would be health care, where commodification is so obviously counter to human life as we face a pandemic. And appreciated seeing Naomi’s book on the shelf behind you!

[@margaretnacey6572]

Sounds like you’ve been listening or reading Professor David Harvey...or you’re an economic professor yourself. I’m also 67, I tried reading Das Kapital myself, But I didn’t get far. The writing was absolutely amazing!! I knew couldn’t take it all it without spending a lifetime reading it.. But with David Harvey’s companion reader and about 5-6 other people I think it would be ....transforming? Enlightening? If nothing else, lit would give me the vocabulary to learn more and understand things like you were talking about: capital accumulation. I would love to belong to a book club that would read “Capital” . Because so many people have been afraid to learn this taboo subject. Meanwhile it’s the one thing that affects their life the most. Thank you for sharing.

[@padgetttopsail5765]

All solutions begin with breaking the relationship between money and political power.

[@llevang6812]

Money is political power in liquid form

[@ilhamarq2805]

Me 24% for lesson 76% for improving English skill on economics

[@MattAngiono]

Very good talk! ... but looking ahead 50 years while we have an already catastrophic environmental situation really underplays the severity of destruction and dire need to change.... There's thermal momentum behind climate change and collapse is a huge possibility (most heat is stored in ocean, so air temp rise is locked in)! We should be wise about what we produce, and must both reduce consumption while dealing with global dimming (look it up if you don't know about it! It's terrifying and shows how much harder this problem is to solve than most are willing to admit).... It's quite the predicament we are unlikely to make it out of, so let's get real about the kind of hail mary that solving this crisis will require! Capitalism certainly must go!

[@soulfuzz368]

Matt Angiono industry must go.

[@burden9809]

This man has put into words the things you an I have felt for years. So rewatch this presentation, then act like a grownup , do the right thing and help the transition. RANKED CHOICE VOTING Is a great place to start.

[@Trinhax]

Man I watch and listen to a lot of these videos, but today it really clicked for me. I will be rewatching this video so I can better internalize these ideas. So great, as always.

[@HallyVee]

"Non-capitalist market system." That's a phrase a lot of people could do with hearing.

[@wayneshilcock3027]

One word can sum up all of the issues around the world "Greed". A human condition that promotes a Narscasistic attitude toward others less fortunate and creates a careless action devoid of any feeling or sympathy. This cascades into a disdain for people that do not share the same ideals or relationships, unless it affects their own interests, mainly money.

[@kinglucifer3633]

If ppl walked around thinking the same and acting the same then that means you'll have a cult society. Ppl don't like cults

[@wayneshilcock3027]

@@kinglucifer3633 This is explaining the reality of a human condition. The best examples of this are gambling and drug addiction.

[@kinglucifer3633]

@@wayneshilcock3027 what does having a drug and gambling addiction have to to with greed because those two things are more on the lines of self destruction? So of course ppl who have self destructive behavior aren't going to have sympathy nor empathy for others.

[@wayneshilcock3027]

@@kinglucifer3633 Gamblers risk all the money they have to basically get rich. It becomes a habit if they lose, they feel the need to get that money back. Now they don't care about the family they have or any advice they receive and drugs are a chemical version of that, continually looking for that perfect hit that never comes. These symptoms carry over to wealthy people and greed living in a bubble of their own making and no conception of what happens outside. So this is the reason why they have a warped form of reality.

[@kinglucifer3633]

@@wayneshilcock3027 wealthy ppl don't have a warped form of reality they just see things for what they really are and they capitalize off of it. When poor ppl hit the lottery they don't think about other poor ppl they're only concerned about buying the things they've never had but always wanted which is a bigger house and multiple fancy cars. They also upgrade to a more expensive drug in most cases because when poor ppl use drugs they'll purchase the cheap stuff but once they become rich all of a sudden they'll start buying the drugs wealthy ppl buy. Now as far as the vast majority of society theyre not concered about what wealthy ppl have because they just want to live a simple life but then I'll see a bunch of socialist with narcissistic personality disorders being envious of the wealthy because they want the same money and power as the wealthy and it's not a coincidence that the majority of these socialist are young.

[@bernardheathaway9146]

That was quite therapeutic. thanks

[@MrDXRamirez]

I guess it is really difficult for people to penetrate beneath the surface of capitalist society. The surface being circulation that obliterates the deeper operations so that production determines circulation. Trade capital that develops money, or hoarding, that withdraws money from circulation would all take place on the surface. When David Harvey says the economists cannot see the compounding problem beneath the surface they either ignore it or are blinded by how merchant's capital takes control over production and from that point forward the subject matter or the elements under view are lost. I found in a letter Marx wrote to Engles dated April 2, 1858, how he divided the study into 6 books. Book I dedicated to Capital, book 2 dedicated to Landed Property, book 3 dedicated to Wage-Labor, book 4 dedicated to the State, book 5 dedicated International Trade, book 6 dedicated to World trade. Ultimately he recreates the whole system from these seperate books when finally completely read by a single individual. The published books after his death came out as three volumes of Capital and three volumes of Surplus Value really diverges from Marx's original plan for his work .But it is still far more comprehensive than traditional economics which does not even go past the realm of quantity when looking at the economy is strictly at the surface of society.

[@raykirkham5357]

Any environmentally savy person knows we need to end growth at some point. We are virtually consuming our substrate and that of so many species upon which we depend.

[@soulfuzz368]

Ray Kirkham harsh but so very true. Sadly, I don’t know too many people (marxist capitalist or otherwise) who are willing to give up their toys.

[@Rahshu]

Of course, young people's ambitions are so modest and non-specific. Most jobs now are hard to define, and surviving in modest circumstances can no longer be a given. It's a struggle just to put food on the table. When you've got that hanging over your head, dreams of specific careers are not much on your mind. Let's not forget that the lifetime career is something few can realistically look forward to now. Things have changed so much. It doesn't make sense to have too concrete a plan for when you start working.

[@DSimonJones]

The massive amount of personal debt after university has a greater consequence to society. It's deliberate. 'An indebted and an uneducated public are easier to control' (Tony Benn). Debt proliferation is wage slavery.

[@zinxebzinxeb4210]

What a brilliant man!

[@elizabethtaylor9085]

Eliizabeth Taylor. I've been at the point for a long long time that what I care about is the continuity of ALL life by no means just human. In fact if for some reason I had to be the one to choose, I would definitely go for the continuity of animal-other-than=human life. Lions and hummingbirds, THEY have not caused this cruel evil mess. meanwhile, I really do value and appreciate your talks.. thank you. You show me astonishing things and connections I had no idea of.

[@4imagesmore]

It feels like the longue durée train has left the station already.Along with "Small is Beautiful"..

[@inquisitive871]

I understand the ethical underpinnings in critiquing the market paradigm. However, one must take into account that markets allow for cheap commodities in terms of labor hours. One can work much less hours than generations ago for the same amount of goods or more.

[@DSimonJones]

Because production was shipped abroad for lower wages. Slave Labour. Open your eyes

[@christinaamendola4851]

The only cash flow bloom is interested in is his own, make no doubt about it. he allows what ever propagates that intent!

[@SnakeBush]

Nice

[@offgridwanabe]

What is a life worth seems every country has it's own value on the worth of a life.

[@xap81]

What do you think about the idea of a "Resource-Based Economy" where it first is recorded how many resources the world can provide in a sustainable way, and then figured out, how to share these resources in a balanced and fair way to the people. These resources could be expanded by venturing out to planet mars and moon as well.

[@soulfuzz368]

xap81 any system that requires resource extraction can never be fair. It will always require slaves and theft of land period. Perhaps we can make it more fair but never ultimately.

[@DonaldSturgeAnthonyMcKenzieII]

This man is a genius

[@bingbingbong2886]

The contrariwise relationship between perpetual economic growth and nature has been understood for centuries. I think the reason why we haven't responded to this obvious contradiction inside capitalism is the growing population. In nature, most species keep a harmonic balance with their environment, which imply keeping the population under control. The only exception to this rule is the invasive species, like humans. Normally, invasive populations grow and collapse rapidly after exhaust all the available resources. Human populations have invaded almost all the ecosystems of this planet successfully, thanks to technology. Obviously, this can’t last forever. Eventually, a growing human population will face a hard limit. For a while, I believed space-traveling would save us, but not anymore.

[@oswarz]

bing: there are those who believe it will save THEM. Elon Musk?

[@OneLine122]

World population will stabilize in 2100, things will be different then.

[@meeklynobody3230]

Nobody is getting into space, unless your a douchebag elite, finest of humanity.

[@Latuernich09]

@OneLine "World population will stabilize in 2100, things will be different then" Yes, VERY different and you won't be able to recognize this changed world, not to speak to live there as a human anymore.

[@clarestucki5151]

It's worth mentioning that the "indigenous producers" providing fruits and veggies to the consumers of Quito Ecuador from stalls in the local "farmer's market", are dirt-poor, as are most of the consumers, whereas the capitalist industrial farmers providing fruits and veggies to American consumers thru supermarkets, are prosperous, as are most of the consumers. I would never dispute the idea that there are advantages to living the "simple life" of economically backward countries, but there are also some damn fine advantages to being economically well off (prosperous).

[@non-standardproletarian3356]

Did you not hear the last 5 minutes of this talk? I think the binary between either dirt poor or exploitative 'prosperity (for some)" is false depending as it does on some shaky presuppositions.

[@lloydmoore982]

I like the title,capitalist accumulation over human life.I wonder if this is best us human can do for ourselves,"humanity" at some point folks will have to stand up enough should be enough,or we shall soon be like animals hunting each others for our next meal.

[@davidcopperfield2278]

Where is Marx ? Why isn't he above your right shoulder ?

[@notyourechochamber3137]

Thanks for the psyche hoops D@W. If you ate today, thank a farmer. (No he doesn’t like doing it for free)

[@felicetanka]

The goods are not the Good.

[@Drforbin941]

Professor Harvey, Are you basically saying that the inability of the capitalist to realize a profit is due to inadequate demand? Is this not Unconsumption theory i.e. Rosa Luxemburg?

[@melissamiller2696]

Where are anthropologists in these types of discussions? They know about alternative organization of societies that could inform a new vision of a people and environment friendly organization. Raising children has been commodified so that families can't pass down their values and stories to the children. And give them the gaze of love that only they usually give a child to make them feel they belong in the world.

[@soulfuzz368]

Melissa Miller anthropologists like almost everyone else realize that it means giving up certain creature comforts that we are almost all, very unwilling to give up. We need someone to show us the way. You wont find it from armchair intellectuals thats for sure.

[@empiricalmiracle8592]

@@soulfuzz368 I think giving up certain creature comforts will not be as difficult as people think. Getting over the psychological hurdle is difficult though.

[@padgetttopsail5765]

Capitalism requires constant growth or things get bad. With human population beginning to cap off, the existing population needs to consume more and more every year. With the ever greater concentration of wealth, that becomes increasingly difficult. Therefore, in the long run, capitalism is unsustainable. However, the only way to maintain capitalism in the midterm is to facilitate greater economic equality. If people need to consume more and more, they need more and more money in order to do so. Capitalism can't be maintained by the spending of a hand-full of billionaires among an otherwise broke population struggling for basics.

[@twistedoperator4422]

Interview Peter Joseph

[@uttaradit2]

the apocalypse is here

[@johannesbekker1970]

Looks like we're up for a difficult transition period until we've established a new model. Here's a few pointers as to what must change and why. For starters as was pointed out by critical thinkers like Henry George(Progress & Poverty) and Rudolf Steiner, that the Earth is not a commodity - i.e. it's not for sale. What IS for sale is the infra structure on the land. So ownership of land will change to right to use. Now in the instance of Farming, only those who know HOW to farm organically/biodynamically, will get as much land as they can manage for free. Not everyone knows how to farm but they will become helpers and apprentice farmers because mechanization of agriculture will stop. This work will become the vocation for the unemployed masses. Simple tools will be employed plus animals for hard labor like ploughing & carting stuff. Also agriculture will NOT be seen as an economic business but the highest cultural activity as the name suggests. Because this will become a world wide trend, food will become far more valuable, so much so, that grains will become the backing for money as indicated by Scripture : Rev 6:6. Lots of people in agriculture will make light work of hard work. In days of old people instinctively worked on the land during planting & harvest etc to survive the coming winter season. In the interim period while crops ripen, there'd workshops where all kinds of skills will be honed to perfection. These are the main changes that must come to pass before anything permanent can be established. The entire society will become agrarian. The grains we harvest also serves as universal money - with a use-by-date. So regular scrapping of debt will occur - every seven years which means every year a batch of debt will be written off that reached the age of seven years. We create 'fresh' money every year and seal it in airtight silos until we have enough to sustain us in an extended famine/drought and normal economic activity. . It stands to reason that wheat as money will stabilize the economy (a separate domain) because we can determine it value exactly all the time. Gold & silver won't be needed for money. Also schooling will be freed from economic clutches and become a free service paid for by the economic activity. These are but the barest guidelines of what's needed to normalize the tension between economy, culture and governance which will be separated and given full autonomy/sovereignty to each of the three domains.

[@projectmalus]

Well, a slang word for money is "dough", but another way is to have the same kind of representative democracy but organize the neighborhoods differently. That is, don't go and demolish what's there but stop urban sprawl and organize into small villages. Each has growing space,, green house orchard and there's someone who wants to do the work, who is in charge. This is an opportunity for work, for those marginalized ie old and young people. There would be other things going on like a community funded work place, sewing room computer lab etc where skills can be passed on. Most importantly, charge a low fee for living there, in a house that's provided by the village. They have some land but only stewardship not ownership. Half the fee goes toward expenses, and half is put into a fund that in about 4 years will buy the land, well built houses, solar panels and a few big wells if needed, for the next village. The land is cheap off grid and with internet markets, life is good. Have a electric car share and so forth. This paying forward thing is cool. Instead of putting young people under stress (for gain!) treat them as if they were the most valuable, and give them resources. Get 20 of your friends and either get the land donated or crowd funded or work at some crappy job for 2 years, whatever it takes to get that land. Once you're on the land you can save so much money!

[@johannesbekker1970]

@@projectmalus You read the future well ! Once the transition is underway and people are more important than profit things will be so much easier, That profit motive really makes a mockery of the passage of time,

[@projectmalus]

@@johannesbekker1970 I forgot to mention could have a time store in the village. It's legally important to avoid any resemblance to actual currency, so the gift economy idea comes into play; every ones time is of equal value and is gifted to the store. The store in turn gifts something back...I think this is how it works. Now people can do their job with interest because they really want to do it. Agency must remain with the individual, and this comes thru choice.

[@johannesbekker1970]

@@projectmalus That sounds good, it's like I foresee a system where no cash is carried around or kept at home only a book in which you & I record all transactions that we take to the bank on a regular basis to be verified. By doing work we earn wheat credits that sits in a silo somewhere, and we use these to trade with. All physical cash disappears. This system is foolproof even if there is no electricity/when the net is down.

[@andrealb4363]

Capitalism unfolds within the web of life not simply against human life. Why not to invite Jason Moore in a great debate on capital, power and nature? It would be fantastic

[@LucreDenouncer]

We need to incorporate antinatalism into our culture. Exponential economic growth correlates almost perfectly with population growth. We should be using our reproductive instincts exclusively as incentive, not our survival instincts as well.

[@deathbycognitivedissonance5036]

Absolute nonsense. I find it amusing that in an attempt to save humanity, and other species from certain crisis, we need to somehow suppress the most innate and evolutionarily prominent behaviors we have. There is no legitimate moral framework to establish anti nato's policies on people. Your thinking is lazy and shallow. With that being said I hope you are sterile. We don't need any more of you in this world.

[@LucreDenouncer]

@@deathbycognitivedissonance5036 Lol your name is ironic considering your reaction. The only ethical framework to establish anything involving population control is democracy, for which I advocate. We're already suppressing our reproductive instincts by having a $10k price tag for childbirth, at least in the US. The longer we deny earth's carrying capacity, the less voluntary sterilization will become. I'm not gonna procreate but I may adopt and I'll raise them to do the same.

[@deathbycognitivedissonance5036]

@@LucreDenouncer You're pathological thinking is pathetic. Especially when most of the world is more then happy to trample on your pathetic self righteous endeavors.

[@LucreDenouncer]

@@deathbycognitivedissonance5036 That's only because people lack proper safe sex ed and give into their limbic system's signals. If nothing is done, the world's resources will become depleted or a massive number of people will die.

[@svetlicam]

Capitalism is irrational force, and it leads us to this very complex point where sustainable future is in question. But problem is we don't recognise symptoms that undermine that future existance. Climate is what shape society and civilisation and culture of people. And climate is in undeniable change. We should consider this trends in climate change more seriously. Yes capitalism let us to go one with closed eyes, and that made this complex problems that we facing now. But understanding the capital is long term problem but facing with survival is short term. This urgency is most important. But with acknowledging our real position. We can't easily stop machine we have to try to turn it in this urgency position. Which doesn't means we are able to stop the mass, and slow growth. We yet have not that much control. We have to be very humble considering our capabilities, and try to establish priorities. Only emergency could mobilise people attention. But emergency with what we have no what we wish to have

[@spiritofhopeloveandkindnes2308]

If the God's of our ancestors can down help us and tought humans how to live is that not socialism?

[@Zen-rw2fz]

Jessus was the first communist

[@user-nv5ix3ib5b]

not very far, professor

[@Latuernich09]

The proposed change is the simplest and smallest of all necessary stages of change and has always been proposed in human history and is still practiced occasionally throughout the world. But it only aims at physical reproduction and is totally irrelevant in relation to the historically developed needs, which make up the greatest extent of the capitalist commodity form of reproduction. (Energy, infrastructure, communication, transport, cities, etc.) A change requires a huge quantitative and qualitative change in the structure of today's historically developed needs. Has evolution developed man far enough, physically and mentally, that he is able to recognize his current situation and to change as an individual and his community? I do not think so. Revolution Will Not/also Be Televised ?! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmfLpYKLodx4q80 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKi2g6SXj6ymhtk

Quite good video, awesome! Would you like to be KZbin friends? :]

[@seanfatzinger]

Angry atheists

[@soulfuzz368]

This guy sounds almost Tedpilled He keeps saying “capitalism” but it sounds more like he means “industrialization”.

[@AniishAu]

You sound very learned, making important points, but your delivery was so deadpan and unanimated I couldn't bear more than ten minutes. Do your mission a favour and join Toastmasters for 6 months.

[@davidwestwater1914]

If this guy is what sanders is about I'm worried I was in russia it sucked

[@non-standardproletarian3356]

Really? Why does everything boil down between the militarized, exploitative global economy as it is and the Soviet Union at its fall as if those are the only conclusions? This seems more than a bit reductive to me.

[@jaysz6924]

Terrible... You get out what you put in. No one in this comment section has any understand of what is actually going on. Capitalism is not the problem.. not having sound/hard money is the problem.. just another PhD. with a theory. SOUND/HARD MONEY is the answer PERIOD.

[@DonaldSturgeAnthonyMcKenzieII]

ProSocial Pessimist superb