‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’

1. ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Ph.D., associate professor Department of Education, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

2. Why critique of capitalism? • Well, Jacob asked, and I said yes! • Generational theme - before post-modernism • Most of my theoretical life – therefore difficult • But: Who could resist talking about capitalism at CBS? • Commonplace ideals: • Solidarity, equality, freedom – 1789… • Revolution vs. reform – or revision? • Also: For my own sake – brainstorm and overview • Current project:Politics between critique, authority and creation – the argument for democracy ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

3. What is critique? I • Critique • A. Political or social contestation and opposition – • Liberalist: Lack of freedom, morality and human rights (Spencer) • Republican: Lack of political power, political rights and corruption of virtues (Rousseau, Paine) • Communist: alienation and economic injustice (money), unequal social recognition, status (Marx) • B. Analysis and rational reconstruction – like Kant’s three Critiques • Criticism • C. Aesthetic contestation, evaluation, judgement – literature, theatre, arts • critiqueof civilisation, culture and modernity (Nietzsche) ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

4. What is Capitalism? • Economy • Production, distribution, consumption • Value and price chain • Market • Commodity form • Supply and demand • Constitution and regulation – politics and law • Capitalism • Competition, wage earning and non-material value • Need for pacific • accumulation of capital (reinvestment, circulation) • Expansion of commodification (money, workforce, culture, care etc.) ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

5. What is value? • Value • Classical political economy: Use and work (Locke), exchange (Smith), Ricardo (utility), surplus (Marx) • Value vs. market price (Kant) • Moral, spiritual,aesthetic etc. • Utility • Use-value, demand, exchange-value • Measured by price (not value) • Marginal utility I • Neo-classical economics (Jevons, Menger,Walras): Decreasing – material consumption • 20th century: Keynes vs. Marxists and neo-classics • Marginal utility II • Volker Bank: Increasing – symbolic consumption (education, enlightenment, culture) ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

6. Why criticize capitalism? • Spirit of capitalism: • Reasons to participate (Weber, Boltanski & Chiapello) • Legitimacy of social order: Security, fairness and stimulation • 200 years of modern value creation: • Growth, progress, civilizing effects, freedom, democracy, power, wealth, peace, prosperity etc. • But also: • Alienation, commodification, corporal suffering • Undemocratic: Property rights vs. political rights or human rights • Injustice, wage slavery, starvation, pain • Destruction of environment, climate ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

7. What to criticize? • Chaos - conservative • Capitalism produce constant renewal of social order • Ideal: stability, security, legitimate social hierarchy, family, community, religion • Christendom and Islam • Action – liberal • Moral criticism or lack of freedom • Ideals: responsibility, fairness, obligation, duty • Adam Smith (political economy) • Structures – socialist • Necessity of accumulation, growth • Interests rates – usury • Marx (Critique of political economy) • Dynamics • Instrumentalization of rationality (homo economicus) • Business becomes theft • Weber, Durkheim, Mauss ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

8. What is critique? IIa • Critique of political economy (A+B) • Exploitation of the surplusvalue • The declineof the rate of profit • Hilferding, Bernstein • Critique of ideology I (A+B) • The ruling thoughts are those of the rulers • Enlightenment and truth! • Critical theory of society • Horkheimer, Adorno, Marcuse, Habermas ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

9. What is critique? IIb • Critical rationalism (B) • Analysis of truth, science, knowledge vs. illusion and opinion • Popper • Critique of ideology II (B+C) • Living spontaneity vs. burden of culture, rationalization • Artistic freedom and creativity • Against slave mentality and morality • Revaluation of value: generosity • Discourse analysis • Freud, Foucault, Luhmann ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk

10. What is critique? III • Socialcritique (A) • Injustice, inequality, misery, exploitation, • selfishness, individualism, lack of solidarity • Ideal: Justice, fairness, solidarity, • Artistic critique (C) • Oppression (market domination, factory discipline) • Massification, standardization, pervasive commodification • Ideal: liberation, individual autonomy, singularity, authenticity, creativity • Exit, protest – or weak criticism: Cynicism, wait-and-see? • 1968: revolution, reform or revision? • Critical sociology – sociology of criticism • Critique adjusts and improves capitalism (Boltanski & Chiapello) • The spirit of capitalism develops • First step: social criticism – security and fairness • Second step: artistic criticism – fairness and stimulation ‘Critique of capitalism – reasons and varieties’ Asger Sørensen, Aarhus university, aso@dpu.dk