modernity and capitalism (15 theses)

8/11/2019 Modernity and Capitalism (15 Theses)

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MODERNITY AND CAPITALISM (15 Theses)

By Bolivar Echeverria

Trasla!e" #y Charlo!!e Broa" (1)

$Por %&' la c&er"a e!oces si el aire es !a secillo

$Para %&' la ca"ea si e*is!e el hierro +or s, solo

C'sar -alle.o (/)

A ce!&ry a0o e s!ill !ho&0h! !hey 2ere as!ers o3 !he si!&a!io4 !hey !ho&0h! !hey

(2ho 2ere alrea"y &"eia#ly o"er) co&l" "o 2ha!ever !hey lie" 2i!h o"eri!y

ei!her acce+! i! (i 2hole i +ar!s or 2i!h o"i3ica!ios) or re.ec! i! (#y closi0 !he "oor

o i! or rever!i0 i!s e33ec!s)6 Their !ho&0h! s+ra0 3ro a 2orl" i 2hich o"eri!y

!ho&0h rele!lessly +&rs&i0 i!s co&rse 2as s!ill soe 2ay 3ro achievi0 +lae!ary

reach a" co&l" o! "eos!ra!e !o !he collec!ive i" !he !o!ali7i0 ra0e o3 i!s

as+ira!io or !he ra"icalis o3 !he cha0es i! 2as alrea"y i!ro"&ci0 i!o h&a li3e6

The ol" or !ra"i!ioal "ee+ly i0raie" i every "ay li3e carrie" s!ill so &ch 2ei0h!

!ha! eve !he os! all8e#raci0 or "ari0 o3 o"er crea!ios a++eare" #arely !o

scra!ch i!s s&r3ace 2hich o!her2ise reaie" &sca!he"9 +re8o"er 3ors 2ere so

a!&ral !ha! i! 2as 2ell i0h i+ossi#le !o co!e+la!e !ha! !he clais a"e #y !he

a"voca!es o3 o"eri!y i0h! #e 2or!h !ai0 serio&sly6

I !hese "ays ho2ever !he re.ec!io or a++ro#a!io o3 o"eri!y is a++are!ly o

lo0er &"er "isc&ssio9 !he o"er is o ore a e*!eral e!i!y !ha! 2e loo &+o as

a !erra ico0i!a6 :e are o"er or +erha+s I sho&l" say 2e are #ecoi0

+erae!ly o"er9 !he asce"acy o3 o"eri!y is a 3ai! acco+li6 A0ais! !he

"reas o3 a +os!o"er co"i!io 2e are livi0 2i!hi o"eri!y a" are ierse" i

a &i%&e &iversal a" co!i&al +rocess o3 o"eri7a!io6 Mo"eri7a!io isoreover o! a li3e +ro.ec! 2e have chose !o a"o+!9 i! is ore lie soe 3or o3

3a!ali!y or &%&es!ioa#le "es!iy 2e &s! si! o&rselves !o6 ;Mo"er li3e is 0oo"9

!he #a" !hi0 a#o&! i! is !ha! i! !aes !oo lo0 !o arrive a" 2he i! "oes i! is sel"o

co+le!e;4 !his 2as !he ore or less o+e slo0a 3or every +olicy o3 every a!ioal s!a!e

a ce!&ry a0o a" i! i0h! s!ill #e i o&r "ays6 A h&"re" years have 0oe #y #&! social

li3e s!ill sees !o have !he sae o#.ec!ive4 o"eri7a!io !ha! is !o say sel38

i+rovee! #y ai0 +ro0ress o !he lie o3 !he +ro"&c!io !echi%&es social


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or0ai7a!io a" +oli!ical aa0ee! !ha! #e0a !o !ae sha+e i E&ro+e "&ri0 !he

si*!ee!h ce!&ry6

Noe!heless i! is clear !ha! 2ha! is &"ers!oo" #y ;o"er; has cha0e" cosi"era#ly

sice !ha! !ie6 This is o! #eca&se 2ha! i0h! have #ee +erceive" !he as a

iova!io is o2 cosi"ere" !ra"i!ioal #&! #eca&se !he sese !ha! !ri00ers !he eai0

o3 !he 2or" is o lo0er !he sae6 A %&es! i! ha" !o e#ar &+o 0rea!ly cha0e" i!


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The reac!ioary re.ec!io o3 o"eri!y 2hich ar0&e" !ha! i! &"erie" !he i&!a#le

essece o3 Ma a" !ha! i! co&l" #e a" ha" !o #e &"oe 2as soe2ha! siilar !ho&0h

"iae!rically o++ose" !o i!s e0a!io as a 3alse al!era!ive !o a +ro.ec! o3 revol&!ioary

!ras3ora!io o3 !he h&a6 Ac&!e co!roversies arose 2i!hi !he le3! as 2ell as 2i!hi

!he ri0h! o !he iss&e o3 acce+!i0 or re.ec!i0 o"eri7a!io as a his!orical +rocess

0overe" #y !echical +ro0ress6

Des+i!e !he &%&es!ioa#le +rac!ical asce"acy o3 !he ri0h! 2i0 a" i!s "ecisive a"

"evas!a!i0 +oli!ical irr&+!ios i! cao! #e "eie" !ha! +oli!ical li3e i !he !2e!ie!h

ce!&ry has #ee 0&i"e" #y !he +ro+osals a"e #y a ;le3!82i0 c&l!&re;(eve i3 !hey

2ere "is+ara!e a" eve co!ra"ic!ory)6

The essece o3 le3!82i0 "isco&rse has #ee is+ire" #y i!s o++osi!io !o !he !echicis!ic

"yaics o3 o"eri7a!io9 2he!her i! has !ae o"eri7a!io as a #asis 3or re3or or

re3&!e" i! as a ia"e%&a!e ss!i!&!e 3or revol&!io i! has a"o+!e" ;h&ais;

&"ers!oo" as !he %&es! 3or ;social .&s!ice; as i!s #asic e!hical +ro+osi!io6 I! is 3or !his

reaso !ha! !he reali7a!io o3 a !echical &!o+ia reaches i!s 3&lly si0i3icace oly 2he

&!o+ia a++ears as a cos!i!&!ive #&! sor"ia!e elee! o3 2ha! !he 2or" ;socialis;

eas4 !he reali7a!io (!hro&0h re3or or revol&!io) o3 !he socio8+oli!ical &!o+ia o3

a#sol&!e +ro0ress o3 +&re iova!ive ss!i!&!io o3 !he !ra"i!ioal 3i0&re i 2hich !he

+oli!ical has e*is!e" &!il o26

Co!e+orary his!ory sha+e" aro&" !he "es!iy o3 ca+i!alis! o"eri7a!io a++ears !o

have r& hea" o i!o !ha! "ilea o3 a ;si!&a!io o !he e"0e;6 I! ca o !he oe ha"

+ersis! alo0 !he co&rse +&rs&e" #y o"eri7a!io i 2hich case i! 2o&l" cease !o #e a

o"e (i3 co!ra"ic!ory) o3 a33iri0 li3e !o #ecoe a eas o3 si+le selec!ive

acce+!ace o3 "ea!h9 o !he o!her i! ca a#a"o o"eri7a!io i 2hich case i! 2o&l"

"e+rive !he c&rre! level o3 civili7a!io o3 i!s !ra"i!ioal s&++or! !h&s +oi!i0 social li3e

i !he "irec!io o3 #ar#aris6 Disill&sioe" #y +ro0ressis! ;socialis; 2hich 2as +&! !o!he !es! o! oly #y !he 3i0&re o3 !he s!a!e "es+o!is o3 !he ;socialis! 2orl" (e+ire); #&!

also #y !he social correc!e" ecooic +olicies o3 !he li#eral is!i!&!ios 2i!hi !he

;2es!er 2orl" (e+ire); !his his!ory sees !o have #ro&0h! !o a close +recisely !ha!

+ro+osal o3 a ear!hly &!o+ia 2i!h 2hich i! o+ee" o3 a 2orl" 2hich 2o&l" ra"ically

i+rove h&a li3e a" 2o&l" ac!&ally #e a!!aia#le6 Co!e+orary his!ory i!s +oli!ical

crea!ivi!y 3ro7e as i3 a2ai!i0 a ca!as!ro+he oscilla!es erra!ically #e!2ee +olicies o3

soe2ha! si+le8i"e" "e3esive +ra0a!is a" !hose o3 "es+era!e essiaisco!aii0 a 0rea!er or lesser "e0ree o3 irra!ioali!y6


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The !heses +ro+ose" i !he 3ollo2i0 +a0es are a a!!e+! !o +&! 3or2ar" a !heory o3 a

+ossi#le o"eri!y !ha! "i33ers 3ro !ha! 2hich has #ee i+ose" &+ !o !he +rese! "ay

a o8ca+i!alis! o"eri!y6 They +rocee" 3irs!ly #y !he reco0i!io o3 oe 3ac!4 !he

+ereial o+e8e"e"ess charac!eri7i0 !he si0i3icace o3 his!orical e!i!ies6

Seco"ly !hey +lay 2i!h coce+!s 2hich a!!e+! !o "isa!le !his 3ac! !heore!ically a"

2hich #eari0 i i" !ha! ;every!hi0 !ha! is real ca also #e !ho&0h! o3 as oly

+ossi#le; (Lei#i7) "is!i0&ish #e!2ee !he co3i0&ra!io or 3or o3 !he c&rre!

+resece o3 a his!orical reali!y a reali!y !ha! 3ollo2s 3ro !he a"a+!a!io o3 i!s ecessary

+resece !o cer!ai a" hoc 88a" !h&s al2ays re+lacea#le88 co"i!ios i or"er !o #ecoe

a s&33icie! oe a" !he essece o3 !ha! his!orical reali!y i!s 3or o3 ;+erae!;

+resece i 2hich i!s ecessi!y e*is!s i a +&re s!a!e lie a a#ivale! +o2er !ha!

ever ceases !o #e so !hro&0ho&! i!s s!a!e o3 cosoli"a!io #eea!h !he ;"e3ii!ive;

a++earace o3 i!s co3i0&re" e*is!ece !ha! ass all a#ivalece6 I accor"ace 2i!h

!his s&++osi!io o"eri!y 2o&l" o! #e ;a &3iishe" +ro.ec!; as >?r0e =a#eras

sees i!9 is!ea" i! 2o&l" #e a se! o3 +ossi#ili!ies 2hich are e*+lore" a" ac!&ali7e" 3ro

oly oe si"e a" i oly oe sese a" 2hich i0h! #e a++roache" 3ro ao!her

+ers+ec!ive a" have ao!her li0h! cas! &+o i!6

Thesis 1

The Ecooic @ey !o Mo"eri!y

Mo"eri!y sho&l" #e &"ers!oo" as !he +ec&liar charac!er o3 a his!orical 3or o3 !he

civili7i0 !o!ali7a!io o3 h&a li3e6 Ca+i!alis sho&l" #e &"ers!oo" as a 3or or o"e

o3 re+ro"&c!io o3 !he ecooic li3e o3 h&ai!y4 a 2ay o3 i+lee!i0 !ha! se! o3

ac!ivi!ies 2hich "irec!ly a" +re3ere!ially cocers !he +ro"&c!io circ&la!io a"cos&+!io o3 0oo"s +ro"&ce"6

The rela!io #e!2ee o"eri!y a" ca+i!alis are ai !o !hose #e!2ee a 2hole a"

i"e+e"e! !o!ali7a!io a" oe o3 i!s "e+e"e! +ar!s 2hich has !h&s 3ar i+ose"

i!sel3 o !he !o!ali7i0 ac!io o3 !he 2hole6

I! is +ro#a#ly !he +re"oiace o3 !he ecooic "oai o3 li3e (2i!h i!s +ar!ic&lar

ca+i!alis! o"e) i !he his!orical cos!i!&!io o3 o"eri!y !ha! re+rese!s !he las! a.or

asser!io o3 a i" o3 s+o!aeo&s ;his!orical a!erialis; 2hich ha" charac!eri7e"social e*is!ece "&ri0 !he +erio" o3 ;his!ory #ase" o scarci!y;6 The h&a #ei0 (;a


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aial e*+elle" 3ro !he +ara"ise o3 aiali!y;) has #ee a#le !o e*ercise his

"is!i0&ishi0 3ac&l!y 88!ha! o3 livi0 a +hysical li3e as a ss!ra!& o3 a ;e!a8

+hysical; li3e !he +riary 0oal o3 2hich is !o 0ive eai0 a" 3or !o social li3e88 #&!

oly o !he co"i!io !ha! he res+ec!s +ro"&c!ive 2or as !he 3&"ae!al +ossi#li0

a" "elii!i0 "iesio o3 his ac!ivi!y6 Pro"&c!ive 2or has #ee a! !he hear! o3 all

+ro.ec!s o3 h&a e*is!ece6 ive !he !ras8his!orical co"i!io o3 !he a#sol&!e scarci!y

o3 0oo"s i "ea" !ha! is !o say o3 !he ;i"i33erece; a" eve !he ;hos!ili!y; o3

Na!&re o! oe o3 !he ca #e coceive" (a! leas! #e3ore !he I"&s!rial Revol&!io) i

ay o!her 2ay !ha as a s!ra!e0y "esi0e" !o "e3e" h&a e*is!ece i!sel3 i a "oai

al2ays alie9 i o!her 2or"s !hey co&l" o! #e coceive" eve i !he ;&+ro"&c!ive

e*+e"i!&re; o !he os! lavish e*!rava0aces as 0oi0 #eyo" !he hori7o o3

ia0ia!io "elii!e" #y !he reach o3 !he #asic ecessi!ies 3or s&rvival6

The cri!ical !heory o3 ca+i!alis o33ers a +rivile0e" eas o3 &"ers!a"i0 o"eri!y

3or !2o co+lee!ary reasos6 O !he oe ha" o his!orical reali!y is so 3ai!h3&lly

a" !y+ically o"er as !he ca+i!alis! o"e o3 re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h9 o !he

o!her o co!e! !y+i3yi0 o"er li3e is so esse!ial !o i!s "e3ii!io as ca+i!alis6

B&! !he vie2 o3 o"eri!y as !o !he +ro#lea!i7a!io o3 ca+i!alis "oes o! oly re"er

i! os! visi#le9 i! also 88a" i! i0h! #e sai" a#ove all88 a2aes i !he i" !he os!

+ressi0 ee" !o &"ers!a" i!6 I! is !he %&a0ires o3 !he o"eri7a!io o3 !he ecooy

88!he co&!er+ro"&c!ive e33ec!s o3 +ro0ress 2he!her %&a!i!a!ive (e*!esive a"

i!esive) or %&ali!a!ive (!echical) i !he +ro"&c!io "is!ri#&!io a" cos&+!io o3

0oo"s88 !ha! os! o3!e a" 2i!h !he 0rea!es! violece ae Ma a +&rely "es!r&c!ive

#ei04 a #ei0 2ho "es!roys !he O!her 2he i! "oes o! 3i! i!o Na!&re ("e3ie" as !he

;3o" o3 reso&rces 3or !he h&a or"er;) a" hisel3 2he he is a ;a!&ral; #ei0 (!oo

a!erial !oo s+iri!&al) a" "oes o! 3i! i!o !he schee o3 2ha! has #ee h&ai7e"

!hro&0h ;+ro"&c!ive; 2or6The i!rica!e a" &+re"ic!a#le 2e# o3 &l!i+le co&rses +&rs&e" #y !he cocre!e his!ory

o3 o"eri!y is i!er2ove i a 3re%&e!ly i+erce+!i#le #&! "ecisive "ialo0&e 2i!h !he

o#sc&re +rocess o3 +lae!ary 0es!a!io cosoli"a!io a" e*+asio o3 ca+i!alis as a

o"e o3 re+ro"&c!io o3 2eal!h6 I! !rea!s o3 a +ro3o&" "yaic i 2hich his!ory "oes

o! !ae si"es o !he level o3 co.&c!&ral eve!s9 hee"less o3 !he ici"e!s !ha! +er!&r#

0eera!ios a" i+assio i"ivi"&als oe!heless i! s!#orly aes i! i!s #&siess

!o i"ica!e ave&es se! !e+os a" s&00es! 0eeral !re"s i every"ay li3e6


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There a++ear !o #e !hree cos!a!s i !he his!ory o3 ca+i!alis 2hich o&0h! !o have #ee

;2ore"; a! #y !he his!ory o3 o"eri!y4 a) a cyclical re+ro"&c!io o3 ;a#sol&!e ar!i3icial

scarci!y; o3 a!&re o a ever8icreasi0 scale (lie a s+iral) a" sa!is3yi0 ever8

"i33eri0 h&a ee"s9 #) a +ro0ress o3 !o!ali!aria reach #o!h e*!esive a" i!esive

(as +lae!ari7a!io a" !echi3ica!io res+ec!ively) i !he real ss&+!io o3 !he

+ro"&c!ive 3orces &"er !he acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al9 a" c) a &s!o++a#le sli++a0e o3

!he "irec!io i 2hich !he !ri#&!e !ha! ca+i!alis! +ro+er!y 88a" i!s erca!ile a" +aci3ic

is!i!&!ioali7a!io88 +ays !o oo+oly 88a" i!s e*!ra8erca!ile a" viole!

ar#i!rariess884 3ro 3ee"i0 o33 !he re! o3 !he la"8lor"s i! cha0es 0ra"&ally !o

s&++or! !he re! o3 !he !echolo0y8lor"s6

Thesis /

The ro&"s Essece a" i0&re o3 Mo"eri!y

Mo"eri!y lie every o!her h&a reali!y is also cos!i!&!e" #y !he 0ae o3 real

+resece a! !2o "i33ere! levels4 !he +ossi#le or +o!e!ial a" !he ac!&al or e33ec!ive6 (A

"is!ic!io sho&l" #e a"e #e!2ee !hese !2o al!ho&0h !here is a e+is!eolo0ical

i+e"ie! i !ha! !he 3orer a++ears !o #e a&lle" #y !he la!!er ias&ch as !he

la!!er #ei0 !he reali7a!io o3 !he 3orer !aes i!s +lace6)

8 There is o !he 3irs! level o"eri!y as a i"eal 3or o3 !o!ali7a!io o3 h&a

li3e6 As s&ch as !he essece o3 o"eri!y ar!i3icially isola!e" #y !he !heore!ical

"isco&rse o3 !he co3i0&ra!ios !ha! have 0ive i! a e+irical e*is!ece o"eri!y ay

#e re0ar"e" as a reali!y 2hich cocre!eess is i s&s+ese as ye! &"e3ie"9 as a

ss!ace a! !he oe! i 2hich i! is ;seei0; i!s 3or or is #ei0 ;selec!e"; #y i! (a

i+ossi#le oe! really sice #o!h occ&r si&l!aeo&sly)9 as a ;i"ecisive; ye!

+olyor+ho&s e*i0ecy a +&re +o!ecy6

8O !he seco" level o"eri!y ay #e re0ar"e" as a e33ec!ive his!oricalco3i0&ra!io6 As s&ch o"eri!y is o lo0er a i"eal a" i+recise reali!y9 i!s

+resece is +l&ral !ro&0h a series o3 his!orical +ro.ec!s a" a!!e+!s !o ac!&ali7e i!sel3

2hich e"o2 i!s cocre!e e*is!ece 2i!h hi0hly varie" a" +ar!ic&lar 3ors 2hich !ae

!he 3or o3 oe s&ccee"i0 !he o!her or o3 oe vyi0 !he o!her 3or asce"acy6

The 0ro&"s o3 o"eri!y are !o #e 3o&" i !he &s!o++a#le +rocess o3 cosoli"a!io

882hich #e0a a! a slo2 +ace i !he Mi""le A0es accelera!e" i !he si*!ee!h ce!&ry

a" reache" a e*+losive s+ee" 3ro !he !ie o3 !he I"&s!rial Revol&!io !o !he +rese!"ay88 o3 a !echolo0ical cha0e 2hich a33ec!s !he very roo!s o3 !he &l!i+le ;a!erial


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civili7a!ios; o3 !he h&a #ei06 I #o!h !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io a" !he 2or 3orce

!he scale o3 is!r&e!al o+era#ili!y has !ae a ;%&ali!a!ive lea+;9 e*+asio has #ee

s&ch !ha! i! has ove" !o a hi0her or"er a" !h&s !o a hori7o o3 +ossi#ili!ies 3or 0ivi0

a" receivi0 3ors &o2 "&ri0 !ho&sa"s o3 years o3 his!ory6 The +ro"&c!ive

3orces are o lo0er #elea0&ere" #y a" s.ec!e" !o !he &iverse #eyo" !he 2orl"

co%&ere" #y !he (a &iverse calle" ;Na!&re;) #&! have #ecoe i3 o! ore +&issa!

!ha i! !he ore +o2er3&l i so 3ar as !heir s+eci3ic o#.ec!ives are cocere"9 !hey

a++ear !o have eve!&ally a++oi!e" a !o !he +roise" hierarchy o3 ;lor" a" as!er;

o3 !he Ear!h6 As early as !he ;ive!io o3 Aerica; (E6 Oora) 2he !he Ear!h

3ially ro&"e" i!s 3i0&re 3or Ma a" coveye" !o hi a eas #y 2hich !o eas&re

his 3ii!eess i !he i3ii!e Fiverse a ici"e! o3 3ar8reachi0 a" irreversi#le e33ec!

2as se! i o!io i !he "ee+ his!ory o3 slo2 !ies a" eve!s o3 lo0 "&ra!io6 A

&!a!io i !he very s!r&c!&re o3 !he ;a!&ral 3or; 88!he elee!ary civili7a!ioary

ss!ra!&88 o3 !he social re+ro"&c!io +rocess 0ra"&ally #e0a !o &"erie !he #ases

o 2hich all !ra"i!ioal socie!ies 882i!ho&! e*ce+!io88 !hro&0ho&! his!ory ha" 3o&"e"

!heir ori0ial co"e o3 li3e6 This raise" !he a0e8ol" s&s+icio a0ai o2 o !he s!re0!h

o3 &ch ore !r&s!2or!hy "a!a4 i3 scarci!y 2as o! i 3ac! !he ;c&rse sie %&a o; o3

h&a reali!y6 The PGleos o"el 2hich has is+ire" every +ro.ec! o3 !he his!orical

e*is!ece o3 Ma #y ai0 i! a 2ar s!ra!e0y !ha! co"i!ios s&rvival i !ers o3 !he

aihila!io or e*+loi!a!io o3 !he O!her (o3 !he h&a o!her o3 Na!&re) is o! !he oly

+ossi#ili!y9 oe i0h! 2i!ho&! i! #ei0 a ill&sio ia0ie a "i33ere! oe i 2hich !he

O!her is calle" 3ollo2i0 !he o"el o3 Hros6

The essece o3 o"eri!y is cos!i!&!e" a! a cr&cial oe! i !he his!ory o3 :es!er

civili7a!io a" cosis!s o3 a challe0e 2hich i! +rovoe" a" 2hich oly i! 88i i!s

E&ro+ea cocre!eess88 2as i a +osi!io !o +erceive a" reco0i7e as s&ch6 This

challe0e +oses !he ee" !o choose 3or i!sel3 a" 3or civili7a!io as a 2hole a his!oricalco&rse ra"ically "i33ere! 3ro !he !ra"i!ioal co&rse 0ive !ha! i! has !he real +ossi#ili!y

!o "is+ose o3 a is!r&e!al 3iel" !ha! is so !echically e33icie! !ha! ca ae

a#&"ace ay re+lace scarci!y as !he ori0i a" +riary e*+eriece o3 !he h&a race

o !his ear!h6 >&s! as 2he a +lay has 3or reasos #eyo" i!s co!rol !o re2ri!e i!s !e*!

i !he i""le o3 a +er3orace #eca&se !he o!i3 o3 i!s "raa!ic !esio has

&acco&!a#ly vaishe" so !he "iscovery o3 !he 0ro&"s o3 o"eri!y +lace" :es!er

civili7a!io i a si!&a!io o3 i!eral co3lic! a" r&+!&re a" !his earlier !ha o!hercivili7a!ios !ha! 2o&l" oly e*+eriece i! &ch la!er a" 2i!h a lesser "e0ree o3


8/46

i!eriori7a!io6 The E&ro+ea 2es!er civili7a!io ha" &e*+ec!e"ly !o 0ive 3or (or !o

cover! i!o i!s ss!ace) !o a e2 s!a!e o3 !hi0s 88!ha! !he 3a!asy o3 !he h&a race

has al2ays +or!raye" as !he os! "esira#le #&! !he leas! 3easi#le88 2hich s&""ely 2e!

i %&i!e !he o++osi!e "irec!io 3ro !ha! o3 !he s!a!e o3 !hi0s o 2hich i! lie all !he

o!her civili7a!ios 2as #ase"6

The e33ec!ive his!orical co3i0&ra!ios o3 o"eri!y loo lie !he &3ol"i0 o3

"is!ic!ive re83ora!ios o3 i!sel3 !ha! !he E&ro+ea :es! ca ;ive!; 88soe as

isola!e" e33or!s a" o!hers coor"ia!e" i a#i!io&s 0lo#al +ro.ec!s88 3ro !he os!

elee!ary level o3 i!s o2 s!r&c!&re 3or !he +&r+ose o3 res+o"i0 !o !ha! a#sol&!e

ovel!y6 These "i33ere! o"eri!ies o3 !he o"er a0e 2hich 2ere +ar!ially i3 o!

!o!ally s&ccess3&l "e+e"i0 o !he case "o o! #y ay eas ;e*ha&s!; !he essece o3

o"eri!y a" !h&s erase !he cri!ical oe! o3 choice "ecisio a" reali7a!io !ha! i!

i+lies9 is!ea" !hey are co!i&ally aler!i0 i! !o e2 +ers+ec!ives 3ro 2hich i! ay

asser! i!sel3 a" are revi!ali7i0 each cri!ical oe! i i!s o2 2ay6 The ay

o"eri!ies are 3i0&res e"o2e" 2i!h cocre!e vi!ali!y #eca&se !hey co!i&e !o

cos!i!&!e !heselves i co3lic! as a!!e+!s !o 3or a a!!er 2hich has s!ill o! los! i!s

re#ellio&s s+iri!6

O3 all !he e33ec!ive o"eri!ies !hro&0ho&! his!ory !he o"eri!y o3 echai7e"

i"&s!rial ca+i!alis alo0 Nor!h E&ro+ea lies has #ee &+ !o o2 !he os!

3&c!ioal a" !he oe 2hich a++ears !o have ai3es!e" i!s +o!e!iali!ies !o !he 0rea!es!

e*!e!4 3ro !he si*!ee!h ce!&ry &+ !o !he +rese! "ay !his 3or o3 o"eri!y has #ee

3ashioe" aro&" !he ra"ical ove o3 sor"ia!i0 !he +ro"&c!iocos&+!io +rocess

!o ;ca+i!alis; as a +ec&liar o"e o3 acc&&la!i0 erca!ile 2eal!h6

Ay "isco&rse !ha! as+ires !o say soe!hi0 i!eres!i0 a#o&! co!e+orary li3e &s! #e

cri!ical6 Cri!icis is #ro&0h! i!o +lay a! !ha! oe! o3 re3lec!io 2he i! icises !he

charac!eris!ics o3 o"eri!y as i! ;really is; a" "is8covers i!s essece9 !his is a "ecisiveoe! o3 0rea! si0i3icace i !ha! o"eri!y is ca&0h! &a2ares i i!s +olyor+ho&s

s!a!e o3 a#ivalece a" lac o3 "e3ii!io #y soe "evice 2hich +ro+oses !o "e8s!roy

!heore!ically i!s cocre!e ca+i!alis! co3i0&ra!ios6 The #ac o3 his!orical co!i&i!y

o33ers a i+ecca#le 0&i"e !o !he seses o3 !o&ch a" si0h!6 =o2ever i! hi"es scars

s!&+s o3 &!ila!e" or0as a" eve #lee"i0 2o&"s 2hich oly coe !o li0h! 2he a

ha" or a eye r&s over i! ;a0ais! !he 0rai;6 or !his reaso i! is o! 2or!h res+ec!i0

!he real9 i! is #e!!er !o "o! !he ra!ioali!y !ha! #o2s "o2 #e3ore !he 2orl" as i! ;reallyis; o! oly as !he #es! (0ive i!s reali!y) #&! also as !he oly +ossi#le 2orl" a" !o


9/46

!r&s! i ao!her less ;realis!ic; a" o33icio&s ra!ioali!y !ha! "oes o! e*cl&"e li#er!y6 I

!his 2ay i! ay #e sho2 !ha! 2ha! is has o ore ;ri0h! !o #e; !ha 2ha! 2as o! #&!

co&l" have #ee9 !ha! &"erlyi0 !he es!a#lishe" +ro.ec! o3 o"eri!y !here are

o++or!&i!ies 3or a al!era!ive +ro.ec! 2hich 88ore i lie 2i!h !he +ossi#ili!ies 3or a

all8eco+assi0 asser!io o3 li3e !ha! i! has i essece88 have o! ye! #ee e*ha&s!e"6

I! is o2 !ha! his!ory cao! re!race i!s s!e+s !ha! each s!e+ !ae r&s !ro&0h !he +lace

i! s!e++e" o6 Eve !ha! 2hich is +rese!e" as a i+rovee! or correc!io o3 a 0ive

3i0&re is really a e2 versio o3 !he sae4 i or"er !ha! i! ay #e coserve" a"

a"o+!e" i! has ha" a! !he sae !ie !o "es!roy a" re.ec! i!6 The 0ro&"s o3 o"eri!y

reais #y o eas &!o&che" #y !he his!ory o3 ca+i!alis! 3ors !ha! i a s&ccessio

o3 e.a#e!s have cover!e" i! i !heir ss!ace9 !he i+ri! is i"eli#le

88+ro3o&" "ecisive a" "e3ii!ive6 I! 2o&l" ho2ever "o o har !o call i!o %&es!io

ye! a0ai !ha! ol" covic!io 88re.&vea!e" o2 2i!h relie3 a3!er !he lesso o3 +os!8JK

"isecha!e!;88 !ha! re"&ces !he co&rse o3 o"eri!y !o !his i+ri! a" !aes i! 3or

0ra!e" !ha! o"eri!y a" ca+i!alis are e%&ivale!9 a" oreover !o a""ress ye!

a0ai !he +ro#le o3 2he!her !he &!o+ia o3 a +os!8ca+i!alis! o"eri!y 88socialis!

co&is! aarchis!88 is s!ill reali7a#le6

Thesis

Mar* a" Mo"eri!y

Mar*s !heore!ical "ecos!r&c!io o3 +oli!ico8ecooic "isco&rse o&!lies &ero&s

coce+!&al #ri"0es lea"i0 !o2ar"s !he +ro#lea!i7a!io o3 o"eri!y6 The ai oes

2hich eer0e 3ro !he ce!er o3 his cri!ical +ro.ec! ay #e 3o&" i !he 3ollo2i0

oe!s o3 his &"ers!a"i0 o3 ca+i!alis6

a) The hy+o!hesis !ha! a!!e+!s !o e*+lai !he charac!eris!ics o3 o"er

ecooic li3e #y eas o3 a "e3ii!io o3 i!s s!r&c!&re as a !2o3ol" a" co!ra"ic!oryeve!9 as !he res&l! o3 3orce" &i3ica!io eve !ho&0h his!orically ecessary #y eas

o3 2hich a 3oral +rocess o3 !he +ro"&c!io o3 s&r+l&s val&e a" acc&&la!io o3

ca+i!al (!ha! is !o say !he s!ra!& o3 !he a#s!rac! e*is!ece o3 ecooic li3e as ;3ori0

#il"&0 o3 val&e;) ss&es or sor"ia!es a real +rocess o3 !ras3ora!io o3 !he

a!&re a" res!ora!io o3 !he social #o"y (!ha! is !o say !he s!ra!& o3 cocre!e e*is!ece

o3 ecooic li3e as ;3ori0 #il"&0 o3 2eal!h;)6 This ss&+!io or sor"ia!io

2o&l" o!her2ise +rese! !2o "i33ere! levels or s!a!es accor"i0 !o !he "e0ree a" !y+eo3 i!s 3or80ivi0 e33ec!6 I !he 3irs! a ;3oral; s!a!e !he ca+i!alis! o"e alrea"y


10/46

i!erali7e" #y socie!y oly cha0es !he +ro+er!y co"i!ios o3 !he +rocess o3

+ro"&c!iocos&+!io a" s!ill e*er!s a e*!eral i3l&ece o !he !ra"i!ioal

%&ali!a!ive #alace #e!2ee !he sys!e o3 cos&er ee"s a" !he sys!e o3 +ro"&c!ive

ca+aci!ies9 i !he seco" a ;real; or ss!a!ial s!a!e !he social i!erali7a!io o3 !his

o"e &+se!s #y +ee!ra!i0 !he !echical s!r&c!&re o3 !he +ro"&c!iocos&+!io

+rocess !he #alace o3 !he ier 2ori0s "ialec!ics #e!2ee ee"s a" ca+aci!ies

2i!ho&! o33eri0 ay al!era!ive %&ali!a!ive +ro+osal6

#) The "escri+!io o3 !he "i33erece a" co+lee!ari!y #e!2ee !he

s!r&c!&ri0 o3 ecooic li3e i si+le erca!ile !ers (+ro"&c!iocos&+!io a"

circ&la!io o3 !he elee!s o3 o#.ec!ive 2eal!h) a" i!s co3i0&ra!io "evelo+e" alo0

ca+i!alis!8erca!ile lies6 Lie2ise !he &"ers!a"i0 o3 !he his!ory o3 !his

co+lee!ari!y 3ro !he +erio" i 2hich ca+i!alis a++ears as !he oly so&"

0&ara!ee o3 erca!ile ecooic li3e !o !he +erio" i 2hich erca!ile li3e serves

erely as a as 3or ca+i!alis6 A si0le +rocess #&! !2o o++osi!e eai0s6 O !he

oe ha" !he ca+i!alis! #ehavior o3 !he are! is !he is!r&e! 3or !he e*+asio a"

cosoli"a!io o3 !he erca!ile s!r&c!&re as !he 3&"ae!al a" e*cl&sive or"eri0 o3

all !he circ&la!io o3 social 2eal!h (a! !he cos! o3 o!her !ra"i!ioal or ;a!&ral;

or"eri0s)6 O !he o!her ha" !he erca!ile s!r&c!&re is !he is!r&e! 3or !he

e*+asio a" cosoli"a!io o3 !he ca+i!alis! 3or o3 ecooic #ehavior as !he

"oia! o"e o3 +ro"&c!io a" cos&+!io o3 social 2eal!h6

c) The "eriva!io o3 !he coce+! o3 rei3ica!io a" erca!ile 3e!ishis a" o3

!ha! o3 aliea!io a" ca+i!alis! 3e!ishis 88as cri!ical ca!e0ories o3 o"er civili7a!io

i 0eeral88 #ase" o !he !heory !ha! co!ras!s !he si+le ercha"i7a!io o3 !he

+ro"&c!iocos&+!io +rocess o3 social 2eal!h (as a e*!eral +heoeo 2hich

"oes o! "are !o !o&ch !he h&a 2or 3orce) 2i!h i!s ca+i!alis! ercha"i7a!io (2hich

+ee!ra!es i! !ro&0h !he sor"ia!io o3 !he 2or 3orce)6 This "eriva!io "e3ies si+leerca!ile rei3ica!io as !he his!orical +rocess i 2hich !he ca+aci!y o3 sel38cos!i!&!io

(a" o3 sociali7a!io o3 i"ivi"&als) +ro+er !o every socie!y ca o lo0er #e

acco+lishe" i a "irec! a" vol&!ary (;ecessary;) aer #&! has !o #e reali7e" i

o#e"iece !o ha7ar" !ha! is !o say !has !o !he ier! &i3yi0 a" 0eerali7i0 ac!io

o3 !he circ&la!ory echais o3 coo"i!ies6 O2i0 !o !his a&!ary or soverei0!y is

o lo0er crys!alli7e" as a a!!ri#&!e o3 a +ersoali7e" social s.ec! 88as i acie!

his!ory 2he !his crys!alli7a!io 2as +erceive" as a echais !o +ro!ec! !he !hrea!ee"collec!ive i"e!i!y88 a" reais as a ere +ossi#ili!y 3or !he sae6 Icl&"e" i !his


11/46

+rocess !he 2hole o3 !hi0s 88o2 !he ;2orl" o3 coo"i!ies;88 is o! oly !he series o3

a!&ral circ&i!s #e!2ee +ro"&c!io a" cos&+!io #&! #ecoes a! !he sae !ie !he

s& o3 rela!ios !ha! ;irac&lo&sly; &i!e +riva!e i"ivi"&als 2ho are "e3ie" +recisely

#y !heir i"e+e"ece 3ro or lac o3 co&i!y6 I! is o2 a i0"o o3 ;3e!ishes;4

o#.ec!s 2hich 0oi0 #ehi" !he #acs; o3 !he +ro"&cerscos&ers a" #e3ore ei!her

has ay cocre!e "eali0s 2i!h !he o!her 0&ara!ee !he !he ii& o3 a#s!rac!

sociali!y !ha! !heir ac!ivi!y re%&ires6 I co!ras! !o !his si+le erca!ile rei3ica!io

ca+i!alis! erca!ile rei3ica!io or aliea!io is a"e ai3es! as a his!orical +rocess

i 2hich a echais i!er3eres 2i!h lii!s a" "is!or!s !he ac!ivi!y o3 ha7ar" !he

is!ace !ha! 0overs #asic erca!ile sociali7a!io6 This echais 2hich is a

rela!io o3 e*+loi!a!io ys!i3ie" as a e*cha0e o3 e%&i8vale!s (!he e*cha0e o3 salary

3or 2or) !&rs !he ie%&ali!y o3 o2ershi+ i !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io i!o a 0&ara!ee

!ha! oe social class 2ill r&le over ao!her6 Cose%&e!ly 3e!ishis o3 ca+i!alis!

ercha"ise 2o&l" also "i33er 3ro elee!ary erca!ile 3e!ishis9 3ar 3ro #ei0 a

i+ar!ial e"i& 88#o!h ;s&+era!&ral; #e!2ee o2er a" o2er a" !he ;a!&ral;

#e!2ee +ro"&cer a" cos&er88 !he ;2orl" o3 coo"i!ies; "e!erie" #y ca+i!alis

i+oses a s!r&c!&ral !e"ecy #o!h o !he co3ro!a!io o3 !he s&++ly a" "ea" o3

coo"i!ies a" o !he +o2er 0ae 2hich sec&res !he e!2or o3 a#s!rac!

sociali7a!io9 i accor"ace 2i!h i!s "oia! "yaic o3 oey !ha! #ecoes

coo"i!y !ha! #ecoes icrease" oey M8C8(M) i! 3avors every ac!ivi!y a"

is!i!&!io !ha! crosses i!s +a!h a" is hos!ile !o ay o!her !ha! a!!e+!s !o co&!er i!6

") The "i33ere!ia!io o3 s+eci3ically ca+i!alis! +ro"&c!ivis i rela!io !o o!her

3ors o3 +ro"&c!ivis !hro&0ho&! !he ecooic his!ory "evelo+e" i co"i!ios o3

scarci!y6 I!s "e3ii!io as !he ecessi!y o3 ca+i!alis! ecooic li3e ;!o +ro"&ce #y a" 3or

+ro"&c!ios sae; a" o! 3or ei!her s.ec!ive +&r+oses s&ch as ee!i0 ee"s or

o#.ec!ive +&r+oses s&ch as icreasi0 2eal!h (a#s!rac! or cocre!e)6 I! is oly as a res&l!o3 a +ro"&c!io !ha! is i!s o2 o#.ec!ive !ha! is !o say oly i so 3ar as i! +ro+!ly

re"irec!s !he 0rea!es! +ossi#le +ar! o3 !he e*+loi!e" s&r+l&s val&e !o2ar"s !he +ro"&c!ive

s+here !ha! !he 2eal!h cos!i!&!e" as ca+i!al ca e33ec!ively asser! i!sel3 as s&ch a"

co!i&es !o e*is!6

e) The "iscovery o3 "es!r&c!iveess 2hich i essece charac!eri7es !he oly

chael !ha! !he ca+i!alis! re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h ca o+e !o !he iesca+a#le

a"ve! o3 !he o"er !echolo0ical revol&!io !o i!s a"o+!io a" o+era!io i !he+rocess o3 +ro"&c!io a" cos&e6 The ;0eeral la2 o3 ca+i!alis! acc&&la!io;


12/46

88"evelo+e" as a ey !heore!ical cocl&sio o3 Mar*s cri!ical "isco&rse o +oli!ical

ecooy 3ro !he elee!ary "is!ic!io #e!2ee cos!a! ca+i!al a" varia#le

ca+i!al a" !he e*aia!io o3 !he or0aic co+osi!io o3 ca+i!al88 aes ai3es!

!he ievi!a#le 0eera!io a" re+ro"&c!io o3 a ;i"&s!rial reserve ary; !he

co"ea!io o3 oe +ar! o3 !he social #o"y !o !he s!a!&s o3 a s&r+l&s "is+esa#le a"

!h&s "is+osa#le e!i!y6 I! +or!rays ecooic li3e r&le" #y !he re+ro"&c!io o3 ca+i!al as

!ha! o3 a or0ais +ossesse" #y !he ic&ra#le 3olly o3 sel38a00ressive violece6

3) The locali7a!io o3 !he 0ro&"s o3 ca+i!alis! !echolo0ical +ro0ressis i !he

ecessi!y (alie i i!sel3 !o !he lo0ic o3 !he +&re ca+i!alis! 3or) o3 !he &l!i+lici!y o3

+riva!e co0loera!es o3 ca+i!al !o co+e!e 2i!h each o!her 3or ;s&++lee!ary +ro3i!;6

Flie !he re! o !he la" !his +ro3i! ca oly #e yiel"e" #y a rela!ively lo08las!i0

oo+oly o3 !echical iova!io 2hich is ca+a#le #o!h o3 icreasi0 +ro"&c!ivi!y i a

0ive 2or ce!er a" o3 ai0 !he ercha"ise +ro"&ce" i i! ore co+e!i!ive over

a" a#ove !he are! or6

0) The e*+lica!io o3 ca+i!alis! i"&s!rialis 88!he over2heli0 !e"ecy !o

"iiish !he rela!ive i+or!ace o3 !he o8a&3ac!&re" (a!&ral a" r&ral) eas o3

+ro"&c!io i 3avor o3 !hose eas o3 +ro"&c!io 2hose e*is!ece alos! e!irely

"e+e"s o a+o2er (ar!i3icial or &r#a +ro"&c!s)88 as !he res&l! o3 !he rivalry #e!2ee

!he !2o +oles o3 oo+oli7e" +ro+er!y !o a++ro+ria!e s&++lee!ary +ro3i! !o 2hich

ca+i!alis! +ro+er!y o2ers have !o coce"e ri0h!s "&ri0 !he +rocess o3 "e!erii0 !he

avera0e +ro3i!6 La" +ro+er!y 2hich has access !o !he reso&rces a" !he os!

+ro"&c!ive "is+osi!ios o3 a!&re "e3e"s i!s !ra"i!ioal ri0h! !o cover! !he 0lo#al 3&"

o3 s&++lee!ary +ro3i! i!o +aye! 3or !his "oai i!o re! o !he la"6 The oly

+ro+er!y i a +osi!io !o challe0e !his ri0h! 2hich has cosis!e!ly i+ose" i!s o2

ca&se !hro&0ho&! !he !2e!ie!h Ce!&ry is !he rela!ively lo08las!i0 "oiio over

!echical iova!io i !he i"&s!rial eas o3 +ro"&c!io6 I! is !his +ro+er!y 2hich3orces !he coversio o3 a 0ro2i0 +ar! o3 !he s&++lee!ary +ro3i!s i!o +aye! 3or i!s

"oiio over !his o!her ;!erri!ory; i!o a ;!echolo0ical re!;6

Thesis Q

The Charac!eris!ic ea!&res o3 Mo"er Li3e

The ay 3ea!&res !ha! 3acili!a!e !he co+rehesio o3 o"er li3e ay #e or0ai7e"

accor"i0 !o 3ive "is!ic!ive +heoea o3 !he e*is!i0 +ro.ec! o3 o"eri!y or #e!!er!o 3ive "is!ic!ive a#ivaleces s&++ose"ly solve" #y each o3 !he6


13/46

=&ais

=&ais cosis!s o3 !he !e"ecy o3 h&a li3e o! oly !o crea!e a a&!ooo&s

2orl" 3or i!sel3 (a cosos) rela!ive i"e+e"e! o3 !he O!her (chaos) #&! !o sor"ia!e

!he reali!y o3 !he la!!er !o !ha! o3 !he 3orer9 i!s ea0eress !o cos!i!&!e i!sel3 as Ma as

a i"e+e"e! s.ec! or #asis o3 Na!&re 88o3 all !he i3ra8 s&+ra8 or e*!ra8h&a88

2hich i! cover!s i!o +&re o#.ec! a ere co&!er+ar! o3 i!sel36 By eas o3 !he

+erae! aihila!io or e*+&lsio o3 chaos 2hich i+lies a ever8ree2e"

eliia!io or coloi7a!io o3 #ar#aris h&ais a33irs a or"er a" i+oses a

civili7a!io !ha! ori0ia!es i !he +res&a#ly "e3ii!ive !ri&+h o3 ra!ioali7e"

!echi%&e over a0ical !echi%&e6 This ay #e calle" ;!he "ea!h o3 !he 3irs! hal3 o3

o"; a" i! cosis!s o3 !he a#oli!io o3 !he "ivie8&io&s as a 0&ara!ee o3 !he

e33ec!iveess o3 !he is!r&e!al e"i& o3 socie!y6 o" ceases !o e*is! as !he

3o&"a!io o3 !he ecessi!y 3or cosic or"er as a&!he!ic +roo3 o3 !he +ac! #e!2ee !he

scari3yi0 co&i!y a" !he cose!i0 O!her6 I3 +ro"&c!ivi!y 2as 3orerly assi0e"

#y Des!iy a ar#i!rary s&+erior a!!aia#le !hro&0h o33eri0s a" ica!a!io i! is o2

!he res&l! o3 ha7ar" !ae" #y !he +o2er o3 !echo8erca!ile reaso6

=&ais! 2orl"8cos!r&c!io i+lies a hy#ris or a a!hro+oor+his! e*cess 882hich

3orces !he O!her !o #ehave lie Na!&re !ha! is lie all !he reserves (;#es!a";) a!

Mas "is+osal88 !he cl&e !o 2hich is i !he +rac!ical e33iciecy o3 #o!h o2le"0e

e*ercise" as 2or o3 a++ro+ria!io o3 !ha! 2hich i! has #e3ore i! a" !he a!hea!ical8

%&a!i!a!ive +a!!er o3 !he reaso e+loye" as is!r&e!6 The ecooic s&ccess o3 his

s!ra!e0y as a aial ra!ioale i !he 2ar a0ais! Na!&re covices Ma o3 his +osi!io as

s.ec! 3o&"a!io or sel38s&33icie! ac!ivi!y a" eco&ra0es hi !o +&! hisel3 as

as!er s&+erior !o all !he elee!s (3ro !he si+le h&ai7e" a!&re #e i! o3 !he

i"ivi"&al #o"y or o3 coo !erri!ory !o !he os! ela#ora!e is!r&e!s a"

#ehaviors) s&+erior !o all !he 3&c!ios (3ro !he os! a!erial +rocrea!ive or+ro"&c!ive !o !he os! s+iri!&al +oli!ical or aes!he!ic) a" s&+erior !o all !he "iesios

(3ro !he os! ha#i!&al a" a&!oa!ic !o !he os! e*!raor"iary a" crea!ive) o3 !he

+rocess o3 social re+ro"&c!io6

Mo"er ra!ioalis 88!ha! is !he re"&c!io 3irs! o3 !he s+eci3ici!y o3 !he h&a #ei0 !o

i!s 3ac&l!y o3 !hii0 a" seco" o3 !hese !o !he o"e o3 i!s reali7a!io i !he !echo8

erca!ile +ra*is88 is !he cleares! e*+ressio o3 !he h&ais! "el&sio o3 ca+i!alis!

o"eri!y6


14/46

Pro0ressis

=is!orici!y is a esse!ial charac!eris!ic o3 social ac!ivi!y6 =&a li3e is oly s&ch

#eca&se i! is cocere" 2i!h !he cha0es !o 2hich i! is s.ec!e" #y !he co&rse o3 !ie9

i!s ievi!a#ili!y is assiila!e" a" echaiss are crea!e" !o 3ace i!6 T2o coici"e!al

#&! o++osi0 +rocesses al2ays cos!i!&!es his!orical !ras3ora!io4 !he +rocess o3

iova!io or ss!i!&!io o3 !he ol" #y !he e2 a" !he +rocess o3 reova!io or

res!ora!io o3 !he ol" as e26 Pro0ressis cosis!s o3 !he a33ira!io o3 a o"e o3

his!orici!y i 2hich !he 3irs! +rocess +revails over a" "oia!es !he seco"6 I s!ric!ly

+ro0ressis! !ers all !he +rac!ical a" "isc&rsive "evices !ha! ae +ossi#le a" sha+e

!he re+ro"&c!io +rocess o3 socie!y 883ro !he !echical +roce"&res o3 +ro"&c!io a"

cos&+!io !hro&0h !he &ses o3 s+eech a" !he coce+!&al a++ara!&ses icl&"i0 eve

!he +a!!ers o3 !as!e a" socia#ili!y !o !he 3es!ive cereoies88 are ierse" i a

ovee! o3 &avoi"a#le cha0e 2hich 2ill !ras+ose !he 3ro !he o&!o"e" !o !he

&+"a!e" ;3ro !he i+er3ec! !o !he &s&r+assa#le;6

P&re ;o"eris!; +ro0ressis veera!es iova!ive ovel!y as i3 i! 2ere a a#sol&!e

+osi!ive val&e6 I! 0ives access !o 2ha! is al2ays #e!!er4 a icrease i 2eal!h a

i+rovee! i !he +rici+les o3 3ree"o a" .&s!ice !he re3iee! o3 civili7a!io6 I

0eeral !ie is e*+eriece" as a co!i&o&s liear a" %&ali!a!ively asce"a! 3lo2

s.ec!e" !o !he irresis!i#le a!!rac!io o3 !he 3&!&re as a si!e o3 e*cellece9 !he +rese!

al2ays s&r+asse" a" voi" o3 co!e! o2i0 !o !he s+ee" o3 !ie has a is!a!aeo&s

evaesce! reali!y 2hile !he +as! laci0 a reali!y o3 i!s o2 is o!hi0 ore !ha !ha!

resi"&e o3 a +rese! !ha! resis!e" !he +&ll o3 !he 3&!&re6

Fr#aicis

This is !he elee!al 3or i 2hich h&ais a" +ro0ressis ac%&ire s+o!aeo&s

cocre!io6 The cos!i!&!io o3 !he 2orl" o3 li3e &"ers!oo" as !he ss!i!&!io o3 or"er3or chaos a" o3 #ar#aris 3or civili7a!io is chaele" !hro&0h !he very s+ecial

re%&iree!s o3 !he +rocess #y 2hich !he rea! Ci!y is cos!r&c!e" as !he +ro+er si!e o3

!he h&a6 The civili7i0 +rocess i+lies a "ialec!ics #e!2ee ci!y li3e a" r&ral li3e

&"er a clear "oiace o3 !he 3orer9 &r#aiscis #reas 2i!h !his "ialec!ics i!s

!e"ecy is !o "es!roy r&ral li3e6

Fr#aicis is !he charac!eris!ic o3 a +rocess !ha! !e"s !o coce!ra!e !he 3o&r "i33ere!

0ravi!a!ioal +oles o3 s+eci3ically o"er social ac!ivi!y o !he 0eo0ra+hical +lae4 a)!he i"&s!riali7a!io o3 +ro"&c!ive 2or9 #) !he coercial a" 3iacial +o!e!ia!io o3


15/46

erca!ile circ&la!io9 c) !he re3&c!ioali7a!io o3 !he crisis o3 !ra"i!ioal i"e!i!ies

a" ") !he a!ioali7a!io o3 +oli!ical ac!ivi!y6 This is +ro0ressis !ras&!e" i!o !he

s+a!ial "iesio9 !he !e"ecy !o cos!r&c! a" recos!r&c! h&a !erri!ory as !he

icessa! a!eriali7a!io o3 !he !ie o3 +ro0ress6 O&!si"e lies r&ral s+ace a s!ro0hol"

o3 !he +as! "e+e"e! "oia!e" a" se+ara!e" 3ro !he a!&ral +eri+hery #y a

&s!a#le #o&"ary9 !his osaic o3 rea!s 3or0o!!e or es!a#lishe" #y a 2e# o3 &r#a

coec!ios is !he +lace o3 a0oi7i0 !ie har"ly eve vi!ali7e" #y co!a0io6 A! !he

ce!er lies !he ci!y or "o2!o2 area !he si!e o3 i"e3a!i0a#le ac!ivi!y a" crea!ive

res!lessess !he ;a#yss 3ro 2hich !he +rese! is h&rle"; or !he +lace 2here !he 3&!&re

eer0es or coes i!o e*is!ece6 A" isi"e 3ai0 o&! #e!2ee !he +eri+hery a"

!he &cle&s lies !he cos!ella!io o3 &r#a co0loera!es o3 very "i33ere! a0i!&"e

3&c!io a" i+or!ace4 &r#a s+ace !he si!e o3 livi0 !ie !ha! i i!s re+ea!e"

s+irali0 ce!ri+e!al 2ae o3 3&!&ris!ic accelera!io !o+o0ra+hically s+rea"s !he

hierarchy o3 i"e+e"ece a" "oia!io6

I"ivi"&alis

Is a cer!ai !e"ecy i !he sociali7a!io o3 i"ivi"&als i !heir reco0i!io a"

icl&sio as +o!e!ially 3&c!ioal e#ers o3 !he h&a race9 a !e"ecy !o +rivile0e

!ha! cos!i!&!io o3 +ersoal i"e!i!y 2hich ori0ia!es i a a#s!rac! &cle&s4 !heir

e*is!ece as +riva!e o2ers (+ro"&cerscos&ers) o3 coo"i!ies !ha! is as

s+ecies o3 a aoyo&s ass i!e0ra!e" 3ro !he o&!si"e i!o i! a" i!s %&ali!a!ive

&"i33ere!ia!io6 I! !rea!s o3 !he cos!i!&!io o3 a +erso i+ose" !hro&0h a" ye!

a0ais! all !ha! so&rces o3 cocre!e sociali7a!io o3 !he i"ivi"&al 88!ra"i!ioal as 2ell as

e288 2hich are a2ai0 i hi 3ro !he isi"e %&ali!a!ive co+le* co&al

i"e!i!ies6

This cos!i!&!io 3irs!ly "ivi"es !he social8a!&ral e*is!ece o3 a i s&ch a 2ay !ha!!he i"ivi"&al as a soverei0 +o2er !o "is+ose o3 !hi0s (as a so&l &!ai!e" #y &se8

val&e) co3ro!s hisel3 lie a o#.ec! loca!e" ao0 his +ossessios (lie a #o"y !ha!

ca #e o2 lie a e*!eral a++ara!&s a"e o&! o3 "rives a" "esires)6 I! !&rs

seco"ly !he o++osi!io #e!2ee !he i!ia!e a" !he collec!ive every"ay li3e o3 !he

i"ivi"&al i!o !he co!ra"ic!io #e!2ee i!s +riva!e a" i!s +lic i!eres!s9 !he ee" !o

s+are eer0y 3or hisel3 a" !he co+&lsio !o vali"a!e hisel3 i !he are!+lace

colli"e6 Crea!e" 3ro !he "ea!h o3 ;!he o!her hal3 o3 o"; 88!he "ea!h o3 "ivii!ycoceive" as a cohesive 3ac!or o3 !he co&i!y88 !ha! is 3ro !he 3ail&re o3 !he


16/46

reli0io&s e!aor+hosis o3 !he +oli!ical i"ivi"&alis s!rives !o re+lace !he "ivie

a#sece a" rec!i3y !he "evia!io o3 !he +oli!ical #y ar!i3icially re8sy!hesi7i0 !he social

ss!ace i !he 3i0&re o3 Na!io6 As a e!i!y 2i!h a +&rely 3&c!ioal cosis!ecy

"e+e"e! o s!a!e e!er+rise !he o"er Na!io is #ase" o !he covic!io !ha! !he

cocre!e i"e!i!y re%&ire" 2ill eer0e s+o!aeo&sly 3ro !he rea!s o3 !he ;a!&ral

a!io; 2hich i! "eies a" i0ores !ha! is 3ro !he ere a00loera!io or

assi3ica!io o3 +er3ec!ly 3ree or a#s!rac! (!ha! is "e!ache") i"ivi"&als as co+a!rio!s

or co&!rye (;vols0eosse;)6

C&l!&ral rela!ivis 88each versio o3 !he h&a is irre"&ci#le a" all o3 !he are

e%&ivale!88 !he res&l! o3 !he "issol&!io o3 !he "ivie 0&ara!ee !ha! assiila!es

h&a essece !o oe +ar!ic&lar 3i0&re a" e!hical ihilis 88every or o3 #ehavior

is ar#i!rary a" so ica+a#le o3 s&++or!i0 ay cocre!e e0a0ee!88 !he o&!coe o3

!he sse%&e! eaci+a!io 3ro every"ay li3e 2i!h res+ec! !o !he archaic ors o3 !he

co"e o3 social co"&c! charac!eri7e !he s!ar!i0 +oi! 3or !he o"er cos!r&c!io o3 !he

social 2orl"6 Ca+i!alis! i"ivi"&alis !aes &+ !he ca&se o3 #o!h a" s!a0es !heir "e3ese

i s&ch a 2ay !ha! !heir eai0 is &e*+ec!e"ly iver!e"4 rela!ivis #ecoes !he

a#sol&!e co"i!io 3or a!ioal c&l!&re 88a+ar!hei" !olerace !ha! re+resses !he c&l!&re

o3 i"e!i!ary "i33ereces88 a" ihilis 88re+ressio o3 +oli!ical coi!e!88 is see as

!he co"i!io sie %&a o o3 civili7e" li3e6

Ecooicis

Ecooicis re3ers !o !he "ecisive asce"acy 0aie" #y !he civil "iesio o3 social

li3e i 2hich i"ivi"&als are cos!i!&!e" as #o&r0eois or +riva!e e!re+ree&rs over i!s

+oli!ical "iesio 2hich +osi!ios i"ivi"&als as ci!i7es or e#ers o3 !he re+lic6

This asce"acy e*ac!s !he sor"ia!io o3 all +oli!ical "ecisios a" +rovisios !o

!hose !ha! s+eci3ically corres+o" !o +oli!ical ecooy6 The a.ori!y o3 !he a!ioal+o+&la!io is !h&s ivolve" i !he S!a!e a his!oric e!er+rise 2hose esse!ial co!e! is

;!he +roo!io o3 !he eriche! o3 all; &"ers!oo" as a a#s!rac! icrease i !he s&

o3 +riva!e 3or!&es6

Al!ho&0h ecooicis has i!s ori0is i !he +ossi#ili!y 88oly o+ee" #y o"eri!y88 o3

o#!aii0 e%&ali!y a" #reai0 2i!h !he !ra"i!ioally ievi!a#le !rascri+!io o3

%&ali!a!ive i!er8i"ivi"&al "i33ereces as 0ra"es i !he hierarchy o3 +o2er i!

sys!ea!ically re+ro"&ces ie%&ali!y a" sissio6 ;Yo& are 2ha! yo& o2;4 !he+er!iece o3 !his a#s!rac! a" i+ar!ial 3or&la #y eas o3 2hich ecooicis


17/46

clais +ossessio o3 !he secre!s !o e%&ali!y is #ase" o !he vali"i!y o3 !he ;la2 o3 val&e

0ro&"e" o 2or; as a "evice !ha! ca 0&ara!ee ;"is!ri#&!ive .&s!ice; !he e%&al

+ar!i!io o3 2eal!h6 =o2ever i3 !he ;la2 o3 val&e; is !o #e i+ose" i! &s! #e viola!e"

#y ecooicis i!sel39 over a" a#ove !his la2 ecooicis &s! acce+! !ha! !he

+ossessio o3 !hi0s cao! #e re"&ce" !o 2ha! is 0eera!e" #y i"ivi"&al 2or6 The

la2 &s! #e a++lie" 88i3 ee"e" #y coercio88 erely as a +rici+le o3 coherece !ha! is

ei!her all8e#raci0 or all8+o2er3&l9 al!ho&0h i!s s+here o3 ac!io is ce!ral a"

i"is+esa#le 3or o"er ecooic li3e i! e*is!s +recisely !o #e overr&le" a" a#&se"

#y !he o!her +o2ers e*er!e" over 2eal!h 2hich are &rela!e" !o !he s+here o3 ac!io !ha!

+rocee"s 3ro !he crea!io o3 val&e !ro&0h 2or4 !he +o2ers rela!e" !o +ro+er!y #ase"

o violece4 o3 oey o3 la" o3 !echolo0y6

Thesis 5

Ca+i!alis a" !he A#ivalece o3 Mo"eri!y

The +resece o3 ca+i!alis! o"eri!y is i i!sel3 a#ivale!6 Nei!her i!s 0lori3ica!io or

i!s "is+ara0ee! ca #e +&re4 +recisely i !ha! 2hich o!iva!es i!s 0lori3ica!io res!s

!he reaso 3or i!s co"ea!io6 The a#ivalece o3 ca+i!alis! o"eri!y s!es 3ro

!he 3ollo2i04 +ara"o*ically !he os! ra"ical a!!e+! !o i!eriori7e !he 0ro&"s o3

o"eri!y re0is!ere" #y his!ory 88!he co%&es! o3 a#&"ace e#are" &+o #y

E&ro+ea :es!er civili7a!io88 co&l" #e #ro&0h! a#o&! oly #y eas o3 !he

or0ai7a!io o3 ecooic li3e #ase" +recisely &+o !he "eial o3 !hose 0ro&"s6 I or"er

!o asser! i!sel3 a" reai as i! is !he ca+i!alis! o"e o3 +ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h

re%&ires a ever8ree2e" i3ra8sa!is3ac!io o3 !he cor+&s o3 social ee"s es!a#lishe" i

each case6

Mar*s ;0eeral la2 o3 ca+i!alis! acc&&la!io; !he c&lia!io o3 his !heore!ical

"ecos!r&c!io o3 +oli!ical ecooy 88!he o"er scie!i3ic "isco&rse +ar e*cellececoceri0 h&a reali!y88 s!a!es !his clearly (a3!er "eos!ra!i0 ho2 !he ;or0aic

co+osi!io o3 ca+i!al; !e"s !o 0ro2 a3!er sho2i0 !he +ro+esi!y o3 ca+i!al !o ives!

i!sel3 icreasi0ly i !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io a" o! i !he 2or 3orce)4

The la2 i accor"ace 2i!h 2hich a co!i&ally icreasi0 %&a!i!y o3 !he eas o3

+ro"&c!io ca !has !o !he a"vace i !he +ro"&c!ivi!y o3 social la#or #e se! i

o!io #y a +ro0ressively "iiishi0 e*+e"i!&re o3 h&a eer0y 8 !his la2 i a

ca+i!alis! socie!y (2here !he 2orer "oes o! ae &se o3 !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io #&!2here !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io aes &se o3 !he 2orer) &"er0oes a co+le!e


18/46

iversio a" is e*+resse" as 3ollo2s4 !he hi0her +ro"&c!ivi!y o3 la#or !he 0rea!er is !he

+ress&re o3 !he 2orers o !he eas o3 e+loye!9 a" !he ore +recario&s

!here3ore #ecoes !heir co"i!io 3or e*is!ece aely !he sale o3 !heir o2 la#or

+o2er 3or !he icreasi0 o3 ao!hers 2eal!h or !o +roo!e !he sel38e*+asio o3 ca+i!al6

F"er ca+i!alis lie2ise !he 3ac! !ha! !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io a" !he +ro"&c!ivi!y

o3 la#or 0o ore ra+i"ly !ha "oes !he +ro"&c!ive +o+&la!io sec&res e*+ressio

i a iverse 2ay aely !ha! !he 2ori0 +o+&la!io al2ays 0oes ore %&icly !ha

ca+i!als ee" 3or sel38e*+asio6 ()

:i!ho&! s&r+l&s +o+&la!io !he ca+i!alis! o"e loses i!s "evia!i0 #&! +ossi#ili!i0 role

as e"ia!or 2i!hi !he +rocess o3 +ro"&c!iocos&+!io o3 social 2eal!h6 There3ore

!he 3irs! !as o3 !he ca+i!alis! ecooy is !o re+ro"&ce !he co"i!ios o3 e*is!ece o3 i!s

o2 3or4 !he icessa! cos!r&c!io a" recos!r&c!io o3 a ar!i3icial scarci!y a" !his

+recisely 3ro !he ree2e" +ossi#ili!ies o3 a#&"ace6 E&ro+ea civili7a!io e#are"

&+o i!s ve!&re !o co%&er a" assiila!e !he e2 2orl" +roise" #y !he a!erial re8

0ro&"i0 o3 his!orical e*is!ece9 !he 2ea+o 2iel"e" 2as ca+i!alis! ecooy6 B&! !he

#ehavior o3 !his ecooy al!ho&0h e33ec!ive 2as "ole6 This "&+lici!y is re+ea!e" i a

+ar!ic&lari7e" aer i each a" every oe o3 !he vicissi!&"es o3 !he ve!&re4

ca+i!alis is!i0a!e" E&ro+ea civili7a!io !o "esi0 a schea!ic 2ay !o live h&a li3e

!ha! is o! oly "esira#le #&! ac!&ally +ossi#le6 I! 2as a +ro.ec! "irec!e" !o2ar"s !he

+o!e!ia!io o3 !he +ossi#ili!ies 3or 3ree"o i h&a li3e9 #&! !his 2as "oe oly !o

co+el !his "esi0 !o #ecoe a! oe 3ell s2oo+ a ri"ic&lo&s co+osi!io a ocery o3

i!sel36

The 3ascia!i0 a" ye! i!olera#le 3ac!s a" !hi0s o3 "oia! o"eri!y ai3es! !ha!

2hich cos!i!&!es !he &i!y o3 ca+i!alis! ecooy &"er !he 0&ise o3 a#ivalece4 !he

irrecocila#le co!ra"ic!io #e!2ee !he cocre!e sese o3 !he +rocess o3

2ore.oye! (a ;social8a!&ral; sese) o !he oe ha" a" !he a#s!rac! sese o3!he +rocess o3 valori7a!ioacc&&la!io (a ;social8aliea!e"; sese) o !he o!her6

Mar*s "escri+!io e*+laa!io a" cri!icis o3 ca+i!al 88!he ;2eal!h o3 a!ios; i i!s

his!orical ca+i!alis! 3or88 allo2 3or !he !heore!ical "ecos!r&c!io a" !he

&"ers!a"i0 o3 !he a#ivalece a"e a++are! i !he every"ay e*+eriece o3 !he

"is!ic!ive +heoea charac!eri7i0 "oia! o"eri!y6

Accor"i0 !o Mar* !he ca+i!alis! 3or or o"e o3 social 2eal!h 88i!s +ro"&c!io

circ&la!io a" cos&+!io88 is !he ievi!a#le e"ia!io !he oly +a!h 3o&" #yhis!orical circ&s!ace 2hich !&re" !he +ossi#ili!y o3 o"er 2eal!h i!o a e33ec!ive


19/46

reali!y9 ho2ever i! is a +a!h !ha! "e+loys i!s ecessi!y as a i+osi!io a" i!s service as

a o++ressio #y e*cl&"i0 ever8icreasi0 +ossi#ili!ies ao0 !hose 2hich i! is calle"

&+o !o "irec!6 As a "oa!or o3 3or ca+i!alis! e"ia!io i+lies a "eial o3 !he

ss!ace !ha! is sha+e" #y i!9 #&! i! is a 2ea "eial6 Is!ea" o3 2ori0 !o2ar"s !he

resol&!io or ;"ialec!ic !rasce"i0; o3 i!s co!ra"ic!io 2i!h !he +ossi#ili!ies o3

o"er 2eal!h ca+i!alis! e"ia!io oly aa0es !o e&!rali7e i! 2i!hi !he 3i0&res !ha!

resolve i! ei!her 3alsely or 2ro0ly a" 2hich +reserve i! as i! is i a icreasi0ly

i!rica!e aer6

I"is+esa#le as i! is !o !he cocre!e e*is!ece o3 o"er social 2eal!h ca+i!alis!

e"ia!io cao! asser! i!sel3 as a esse!ial co"i!io 3or i!s e*is!ece or ca i!

sy!hesi7e a 0e&iely e2 3i0&re 3or i!6 The !o!ali!y sha+e" #y i! eve 2he i! really

"oes +ee!ra!e !he +rocess o3 re+ro"&c!io a" is e*+a"e" as oe o3 !he !echical

co"i!ios o3 !his +rocess is !he res&l! o3 a 3orce" !o!ali7a!io6 I! ai!ais a

co!ra"ic!ory +olari!y4 is cos!i!&!e" #y !he rela!ios o3 i!e0ra!io or sor"ia!io o3

;a!&ral 2eal!h; &"er a 3or i+ose" o i!6

The la#or +rocess i i!sel3 or !he +ro"&c!io o3 o#.ec!s 2i!h &se8val&e 0eera!es e2

%&ali!a!ive +rici+les o3 co+lee!a!io #e!2ee !he 2or 3orce a" !he eas o3

+ro"&c!io9 +ro+osals o3 a".&s!e! 2hich r&i0 co!rary !o !heir !ra"i!ioal

co+&lsoriess a" &!ili!ariais !e" !o aro&se !he l&"ic a" 0ra!&i!o&s "iesio

re+resse" #y !he e!2or o3 !echical coec!ios !ha! &i!e !he6 =o2ever !his

ac!ivi!y cao! #e reali7e" &less i! o#eys a +rici+le o3 co+lee!a!io o3 a "i33ere!

or"er 2hich "erives 3ro !he +ro"&c!io (e*+loi!a!io) o3 s&r+l&s val&e6 Accor"i0 !o

!his +rici+le +ro"&c!ive ac!ivi!y 88!he co.&c!io o3 !he !2o 3ac!ors o3 !he la#or

+rocess88 is oe o!her !ha a ives!e! o3 ca+i!al 2hich e*is!s oly !o 0ive varia#le

ca+i!al (re+rese!i0 i !ers o3 val&e !he 2or3orce o3 !he 2orer) !he o++or!&i!y !o

icrease !he cos!a! ca+i!al (re+rese!i0 i !ers o3 val&e !he ca+i!alis! eas o3+ro"&c!io) 2he i! is re+ro"&ce"6

I !his res+ec! !here is a co!ra"ic!io i !he &i!ary +rici+le o3 co+lee!a!io

2hich r&les !he co.&c!io o3 !he la#or 3orce a" !he eas o3 +ro"&c!io a" 2hich

"e!eries !he selec!io o3 !he +ro"&c!ive !echi%&es i ca+i!alis! ecooy6 I! cao!

!ae a"va!a0e o3 !he e2 +ossi#ili!ies o3 !his +ro"&c!ive a".&s!e! 2i!ho&! re"&ci0

#o!h +ro!a0ois!s !o ere "evices o3 !he valori7a!io o3 val&e6 Nei!her ca i! s&s!ai !his

co.&c!io as a coici"ece o3 !he 3ac!ors o3 ca+i!al 2hich is "es!ie" !o !hee*+loi!a!io o3 s&r+l&s val&e 2i!ho&! e*+osi0 i! !o !he "a0ers o3 !he %&ali!a!ive


20/46

resis!ace !ha! aro&se 3ro !he e2 !echical rela!ios #e!2ee !he s.ec! a" !he

o#.ec! o3 +ro"&c!io6

Lie2ise !he +rocess o3 cos&+!io o3 +ro"&ce" 0oo"s i i!sel3 crea!es e2 +rici+les

o3 sa!is3ac!io 2hich !e" !o cover! !he !echical rela!io #e!2ee ee" a" eas o3

sa!is3ac!io i!o a 0ae o3 corres+o"eces6 Never!heless o"er cos&+!io occ&rs

oly i3 0&i"e" #y a co+le!ely o++osi!e +rici+le o3 sa!is3ac!io4 !ha! o3 ;+ro"&c!ive

cos&+!io; 2hich !ras3ors s&r+l&s val&e i!o s&r+l&s ca+i!al6 Accor"i0 !o !his

+rici+le !he a++ro+ria!io o3 #o!h salary a" +ro3i! has !he sole 3&c!io o3 0ivi0 !he

val&e +ro"&ce" !he o++or!&i!y 2he reali7e" i !he ac%&isi!io o3 ercha"ise !o

#ri0 a#o&! !he re+ro"&c!io o3 ca+i!al (2hich is 3orce" !o e*+a" i!s scale)6 The

ca+i!alis! +rici+le o3 sa!is3ac!io o3 ee"s is !here3ore also i!risically co!ra"ic!ory4

!o !ae a"va!a0e o3 !he "iversi3ica!io o3 !he !echical rela!io #e!2ee ee"s a"

sa!is3iers i! &s! viola!e i!s +lay o3 %&ali!a!ive #alaces a" s.ec! i! !o !he !ie lii!s

a" +riori!ies o3 !he acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al9 i !&r !o e*!e" a" accelera!e !his

acc&&la!io i! &s! ici!e !he ;chao!ic a" &co!rolla#le; e33ervescece o3 !his

"iversi3yi0 +rocess6 To +ro"&ce ay!hi0 #e i! sall or lar0e si+le or co+le*

a!erial or s+iri!&al ca+i!alis! ecooy oly re%&ires !ha! i!s +ro"&c!io 3&c!io as a

vehicle 3or !he +ro"&c!io o3 s&r+l&s val&e6 Lie2ise 3or soe!hi0 !o #e cos&e" #e

i! &sea#le or &!ili7a#le 3ailiar or e*o!ic esse!ial or a l&*&ry !he oly re%&iree! is

!ha! !he sa!is3ac!io i! o33ers #e i!e0ra!e" as a +ar! o3 !he acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al6 I

#o!h cases 3or !he !echical +rocess !o !ae +lace i! is ecessary !o ae a 3easi#le

!ras3ora!io or ;!rasla!io; o3 i!s +rici+le o3 ;social8a!&ral; reali7a!io i!o a

+rici+le o3 a "i33ere! ;social8aliea!e"; or"er !ha! o3 !he +rici+le o3 !he valori7i0

ac!ivi!y o3 val&e 2hich is esse!ially ico+a!i#le 2i!h i! sice i! ecessarily res!ric!s or

e*a00era!es i!6

By a""i0 +ro"&c!io a" cos&+!io !o circ&la!io !he co+le!e cycle o3 !here+ro"&c!io o3 o"er social 2eal!h is cos!i!&!e" as a !o!ali7a!io !ha! 3orci#ly &i3ies

!he +rocess o3 re+ro"&c!io o3 ;a!&ral; social 2eal!h 2i!h !he (e*!e"e") +rocess o3

re+ro"&c!io o3 ca+i!al as oe o+era!io (si&l!aeo&sly a" i !he sae +lace)6

Accor"i0 !o !he a#ove !he +ro3o&" "yaic !ha! !he ca+i!alis! +rocess o3 !he

re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h co!ri#&!es !o !he co&rse o3 o"er his!ory coes 3ro

!he i!ierary o3 i!eri!!e! re+olari7a!io a" reco+osi!io 2hich is !he o&!coe o3

i!s ihere! co!ra"ic!io4 !he e*cl&sio or reci+rocal a!a0ois #e!2ee i!s !ras8his!orical ss!ace !ha! is !he +riary or ;a!&ral; 3or i 2hich i! is reali7e" or


21/46

e*ec&!e" a" a ar!i3icial #&! ecessary seco"ary 3or accor"i0 !o 2hich i! is

e*ec&!e" oly as a +rocess o3 ;sel38valori7a!io o3 val&e;6

Thesis J

Mo"er =is!ory a" !he Reali7a!ios o3 Ca+i!alis

The "i33ere! o"eri!ies or "is!ic! o"els o3 o"eri!y !ha! co+e!e" #e3ore !he

es!a#lishe! o3 ca+i!alis! o"eri!y !o0e!her 2i!h !hose o"els !ha! co+e!e o2 as

varia!ios o3 i! co+ose !heir ac!&al cocre!io i rela!io !o !he 0rea! varie!y o3

+ossi#ili!ies i 2hich !he real 3ac! ca+i!alis #ecoes +rese!6

O !he sychroic a*is !here see !o #e a! leas! !hree so&rces o3 "iversi3ica!io o3 !his

reali!y 2hich &s! #e "is!i0&ishe"4

8I!s a+li!&"e4 !he rela!ive e*!esio i 2hich !he sec!or s.ec!e" !o !he re+ro"&c!io

o3 ca+i!al i!ervees i !he 0lo#al ecooic li3e o3 a socie!y9 !he e*cl&sive "oia! or

si+ly +ar!ici+a!ory charac!er o3 !his sec!or i !he re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h6

Accor"i0 !o !his cri!erio !he ecooic li3e o3 a socio8+oli!ical a" his!orical e!i!y

ay #e i!e0ra!e" i "i33eri0 "e0rees i!o !he "oia! ecooic li3e o3 !he +lae!

0lo#ali7e" #y ca+i!alis! acc&&la!io9 s+heres "oia!e" #y o!her 3ors o3 ecooy

88o! oly o3 +ro"&c!io88 ay coe*is! 2i!h !he ca+i!alis! s+here9 !hey ca eve

"oia!e i! al!ho&0h !he ca+i!alis! "esi!y or ;%&ali!y; ay #e very hi0h6

8I!s "esi!y4 !he rela!ive i!esi!y 2i!h 2hich !he ca+i!alis! 3or or o"e ss&es !he

+rocess o3 re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h6

Accor"i0 !o !his cri!erio ca+i!alis ay 0ive sha+e or o"i3y !he ;ecooy; o3 !he

socie!y as ei!her a 3ac!or e*cl&sive !o !he s+here o3 !he circ&la!io o3 !he 0oo"s +ro"&ce"

or as a 3ac!or !ha! also "era0es !he s+here o3 +ro"&c!iocos&+!io o3 !hese 0oo"s6 I

!he seco" o3 !hese cases !he e33ec! o3 ca+i!alis is "i33ere! "e+e"i0 o 2he!her i! is

oly a ;3oral; ca+i!alis or a ss!a!ial (;real;) ca+i!alis +ro+er !o !he !echicals!r&c!&re o3 !his +rocess o3 +ro"&c!iocos&+!io6

8I!s "i33ere!ial 3&c!io4 !he rela!ive loca!io o3 !he ecooy o3 a socie!y 2i!hi !he

+olari7e" 0eo0ra+hy o3 !he 2orl" ecooy6

:he!her core or +eri+heral !he "i33ere!ial !ass o3 !he &l!i+le s+eci3ic ecooies

2i!hi !he ca+i!alis! schee o3 !echical s+eciali7a!io or ;i!era!ioal "ivisio o3

la#or; o"i3y !he e33ec!iveess o3 !he la2s o3 acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al !ha! is !o say !he

ca+i!alis! o"el ;&3ol"s; i!o "i33ere! co+lee!ary versios o3 i!sel36


22/46

O !he "iachroic a*is !he so&rce o3 "iversi3ica!io o3 ca+i!alis! reali!y sees !o arise

3ro !he correla!ive cha0es i !he 0ravi!a!io o3 !he !2o ai +oles o3 oo+olis!ic

"is!or!io o3 !he s+here o3 erca!ile circ&la!io !hro&0h !he +assa0e o3 !ie4 !he

o2ershi+ o3 a!&ral reso&rces (;la";) a" !he o2ershi+ o3 !echolo0ical secrecy6

Al!ho&0h o! .&s!i3ie" #y 2or #&! i+ose" #y 3orce !he +ossessio o3 !hese eas o3

+ro"&c!io 2hich are o! +ro"&ce" or o3 o#.ec!s 2i!ho&! val&e #&! 2i!h a +rice has

a "ecisive i3l&ece o !he coversio o3 !he s& o3 val&es o3 e*is!i0 social 2eal!h i

i!s 3or as +ro"&c! i!o !he s& o3 +rices o3 !he e*is!i0 social 2eal!h i i!s 3or as a

0oo"6

:he!her e*!esive or res!ric!e" "ese or s+arse core or +eri+heral !he reali!y o3

ca+i!alis has h&0 over !he o"er his!ory o3 !he las! h&"re" years &"er !he 0&ise o3

a &e%&al #a!!le #e!2ee !hese !2o +oles o3 "is!or!io o3 !he la2s o3 !he are!6

Pheoea lie !he "evas!a!io o3 !he ac!&al co3i0&ra!io o3 a!&re "&ri0 !his ce!&ry

i"ica!e !ha! !he irreversi#le !e"ecy o3 !he his!ory o3 ca+i!alis! ecooy is !ha! !he

o2ershi+ o3 !echolo0y !aes +rece"ece i o &cer!ai !ers over !he o2ershi+ o3

la" as #asis o3 !he ri0h! !o e*!raor"iary +ro3i!6

Thesis

The &a"r&+le e!hos o3 Ca+i!alis! Mo"eri!y

The o#.ec!ive 3or o3 !he o"er 2orl" 2hich &s! #e ievi!a#ly assiila!e" i

+rac!ice #y all !hose 2ho a0ree !o live #y i!s !ers is "oia!e" #y !he +resece o3

ca+i!alis! reali!y #y !he 3ac! o3 ca+i!alis9 !ha! is i !he 3ial is!ace #y a +erae!

co3lic! #e!2ee !he "yaic o3 !he ;social8a!&ral 3or; o3 social e*is!ece a" !he

"yaic o3 !he re+ro"&c!io o3 i!s 2eal!h as ;valori7a!io o3 val&e; 88a co3lic! i 2hich

!he 3orer &s! #e ss&e" !o a" sacri3ice" !o !he la!!er icessa!ly6 The assiila!io

o3 !he 3ac! o3 ca+i!alis !he e&!rali7a!io o3 i!s co!ra"ic!io as a ecessary co"i!io3or !he +rac!ical e*is!ece o3 !he 2orl" o3 li3e e!ails "evelo+i0 a e!hos or

s+o!aeo&s #ehavior ca+a#le o3 i!e0ra!i0 a" acce+!i0 i! as !he #asis 3or !he 3ailiar

a" sec&re ;haroy; o3 every"ay li3e6

There are 3o&r +&re or elee!ary e!he !ha! cos!r&c! !he "iverse co+le* s+o!aei!ies

2hich h&a #ei0s "evelo+ i !heir every"ay e*+eriece o3 li3e a"e +ossi#le #y

o"er ca+i!alis6

8 The 3irs! 2ay !o acce+! !he ca+i!alis! 3ac! as ;a!&ral; is #y ass&i0 a a!!i!&"e o3a33ira!ive a" ili!a! i"e!i3ica!io 2i!h !he clai !ha! !he acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al o!


23/46

oly re+rese!s !he i!eres!s o3 !he ;social8a!&ral; +rocess o3 re+ro"&c!io 3ai!h3&lly

2he i !r&!h i! re+resses or "e3ors !he #&! is also a! !he service o3 i!s +o!e!ia!io6

This s+o!aei!y 2o&l" "ee0a!e !he co!ra"ic!io a" ae o3 !he valori7a!io o3

val&e a" !he cocre!e "evelo+e! o3 !he +ro"&c!ive 3orces o! oly !2o coici"e!al

"yaics #&! a sole &i!ary "yaic6 This elee!ary e!hos ay #e calle" realis! "&e

!o i!s a33ira!io o3 !he &s&r+assa#le e33icacy a" #eevolece o3 !he es!a#lishe" or

;really e*is!i0; 2orl" a" o3 !he i+ossi#ili!y o3 a al!era!ive 2orl"6

8 The seco" 2ay o3 a!&rali7i0 ca+i!alis 2hich is .&s! as ili!a! as !he +revio&s

oe i+lies !he i"e!i3ica!io o3 !he sae !2o !ers !he "ee0a!io o3 i!s co!ra"ic!io

#&! i! "oes i! as a a33ira!io o3 !he o++osi!e4 o! o3 val&e #&! o3 &se8val&e6 I !his

case ;valori7a!io; sees !o #e e!irely re"&ci#le !o !he ;a!&ral 3or;6 A iss&e o3 !he

;s+iri! o3 e!er+rise; i! 2o&l" #e o o!her !ha a varia!io o3 !his 3or sice !his s+iri!

2o&l" i !&r #e oe o3 !he 3i0&res or s.ec!s !ha! cover! his!ory i!o a +erae!

a"ve!&re #o!h 3or h&a #ei0s a" li3e i 0eeral6 Al!ho&0h +ro#a#ly +erverse lie

!he e!aor+hosis o3 !he 3alle A0el i!o Sa!a !his e!aor+hosis o3 !he ;0oo"

2orl"; or !he ;a!&ral 3or; i!o !he ca+i!alis! ;hell; 2o&l" o! cease !o #e a ;oe!;

o3 !he ;iracle; o3 Crea!io6 This +ec&liar 2ay o3 livi0 2i!h ca+i!alis 2hich is

a33ire" !o !he e*!e! !ha! i! !ras3i0&res ca+i!alis i!o i!s co&!er+ar! is charac!eris!ic

o3 !o !he roa!ic e!hos6

8 A !hir" 2ay 2hich ay #e calle" classical o3 s+o!aeo&sly assiila!i0 !he

i!e0ra!io o3 !he +rocess o3 social e*is!ece i!o !he his!ory o3 !he valori7a!io o3

val&e 2o&l" cosis! o3 livi0 i! as a !rasce"e! ecessi!y !ha! is as a 3ac! reachi0

#eyo" !he s+here o3 ac!io 2hich corres+o"s !o 2ha! is h&a6 A #lessi0 o !he oe

ha" (as !he o33s+ri0 o3 haroy) a" a c&rse o !he o!her (as !he o33s+ri0 o3

co3lic!) !he co#ia!io o3 !he a!&ral a" !he ca+i!alis! is see as a e!a+hysical

eve! "is!ace" or +res&++ose" as a close" "es!iy !he clos&re o3 2hich o+es !he+ossi#ili!y o3 a 2orl" s&i!a#le 3or !he h&a co"i!io6 or !his e!hos 2ha!ever a!!i!&"e

a"o+!e" 3or or a0ais! 2ha! is es!a#lishe" 2hich is ili!a! ei!her 3or i!s e!h&sias or

i!s +ro!es! a" clais !o #e e33ec!ive 88is!ea" o3 reco0i7i0 i!s lii!s 2i!hi !he

"iesio o3 &"ers!a"i0 (2i!h e%&aii!y a" "is!ace o3 s!oic ra!ioalis)88

a++ears aive a" s&+er3l&o&s6

8 A 3o&r!h 2ay o3 i!e0ra!i0 ca+i!alis i!o !he s+o!aei!y o3 every"ay li3e 2o&l"

co+le!e !he %&a"r&+le elee!ary sys!e o3 !he +revaili0 e!hos o3 es!a#lishe"o"eri!y6 Baro%&e ar! ay le" i!s ae !o o"eri!y #eca&se lie hi i! is !oo a


24/46

;a33ira!io o3 li3e 2i!hi "ea!h; (6 Ba!aille) 8i i!s !hea!rical &se o3 !he i"is+&!a#le

3oral cao #aro%&e ar! 3o&" !he o++or!&i!y !o aia!e all i!s +e!ri3ie" 0es!&res a"

!o revi!ali7e !he si!&a!io i 2hich i! 2as cos!i!&!e" as a e0a!io a" sacri3ice o3 !he

O!her6 This is a s!ra!e0y o3 3i"eli!y !o !he ;a!&ral 3or; 2hich +ara"o*ically ori0ia!es

i !he e*+eriece o3 !his 3or as sacri3ice"6 ;O#eyi0 2i!ho&! 3&l3illi0; !he

cose%&eces o3 i!s sacri3ice !&ri0 !he ;evil; +ro0ress o3 his!ory i!o ;0oo"; #aro%&e

e!hos clais !o recos!r&c! !he cocre!eess o3 !he 2orl" o3 li3e 3ro !he reais o3

"evas!a!i0 a#s!rac!io a" !o re8ive! i!s %&ali!ies +osi0 !he as ;seco" 0ra"e;

!hea!rical %&ali!ies s&rre+!i!io&sly is&33la!i0 a i"irec! #rea!h i!o !he resis!ace !ha!

2or a" e.oye! o3 !he ;&se8val&es; o33er !o !he +re"oiace o3 !he +rocess o3

valori7a!io6

Nee"less !o say oe o3 !hese 3o&r e!he !ha! ae &+ !he +&re sys!e o3 ;ha#i!s a"

c&s!os; or !he elee!ary civili7a!ioal ;re3&0e a" cover; o3 ca+i!alis! o"eri!y

ever e*is! i"e+e"e!ly9 i !he ac!&al li3e o3 !he "i33ere! o"er ;cos!r&c!ios o3 !he

2orl"; each oe is al2ays 3o&" i co#ia!io 2i!h !he o!hers i "i33ere! 2ays

accor"i0 !o !he circ&s!aces6 =o2ever oe or o!her ay +lay a lea"i0 role i !his

co+osi!io or0ai7e ho2 i! co#ies 2i!h !he o!hers a" 3orce !he !o !rasla!e

!heselves i!o i! so as !o ae !heselves ai3es!6 Oly i !his rela!ive sese ay

oe s+ea 3or e*a+le o3 a ;classical; as o++ose" !o a ;roa!ic; o"eri!y a

;#aro%&e; as o++ose" !o a ;realis! e!ali!y;6

Ori0ia!i0 i "i33ere! +erio"s o3 o"eri!y !ha! is i rela!io !o "is!ic! s&ccessive

i+&lses o3 ca+i!alis 88!he Me"i!erraea Nor!her :es!er or Ce!ral E&ro+ea88

!he "i33ere! o"er e!he co3i0&re co!e+orary social e*is!ece 3ro "i33ere!

;archaeolo0ical; s!ra!a or his!orical resi"&es6 Each oe has !h&s ac!e" &+o socie!y i i!s

o2 2ay a" 0ive +re3erece !o oe "iesio o3 socie!y 2here i! has e*+a"e" i!s

ac!io6 or e*a+le ;!he #aro%&e; 2as +ro#a#ly !he 3irs! "ecisive a" 0eerali7e"2a!ershe" i !he !e"ecy o3 o"er civili7a!io !o revi!ali7e !he !ra"i!ioal :es!er

co"e a3!er each e2 "es!r&c!ive 2ave arisi0 3ro ca+i!alis! "evelo+e!6 The las!

2a!ershe" !he ;roa!ic; 2o&l" have a siilar e33ec! o !he !e"ecy o3 o"er

+oli!ics !o !rea! !he le0i!iacy o3 !he ecooic +rocess as allea#le a!erial i !he

ha"s o3 0rea! vler or 0rea! e6 This lac o3 si&l!aei!y i !he cos!i!&!io a"

co#ia!io o3 !he "i33ere! e!he is also !he reaso 3or 2hich !hey are sys!ea!ically

"is!ri#&!e" &e%&ally i a co+lica!e" +lay o3 a33ii!ies a" aversios !hro&0ho&! !he0eo0ra+hy o3 !he +lae! o"eri7e" #y !he E&ro+ea or ca+i!alis! :es!


25/46

Thesis K

E&ro+ea :es! a" Ca+i!alis! Mo"eri!y

A !ras+osi!io o3 2ha! Mar* sai" i a &!shell a#o&! 0ol" a" !he 3&c!io o3 oey4

E&ro+e is o! ;#y a!&re; o"er #&! o"eri!y is ;#y a!&re; E&ro+ea6

D&ri0 !he Mi""le A0es !he 3ac! !ha! a! leas! !hree 0rea! his!orical reali!ies coici"e"

a" i!erac!e" 88!he cos!r&c!io o3 a civili7e" 2orl" o3 E&ro+ea eas&re !he

sor"ia!io o3 2eal!h !o !he erca!ile 3or a" !he Ca!holic cosoli"a!io o3 !he

Chris!ia c&l!&ral +ro.ec!88 o!a#ly +re"is+ose" E&ro+e !o acce+! !he challe0e !ha! 2as

icl&"e" i a eve! 2hich ha" a!&re" 2i!h !he co&rse o3 his!ory4 !he iversio o3 !he

+o2er "is!ri#&!io #e!2ee !he h&a #ei0 a" !he o8h&a co"i!ios o3 is li3e6 I

re!ros+ec! E&ro+e a++eare" cos!r&c!ively +ro!o8o"er +re"es!ie" 3or o"eri!y6

I"ee" 2he i! #ecae ecessary E&ro+e her !erri!ories a" +eo+les 3o&" !hey 2ere

+ar!ic&larly 2ell +re+are" !o 0ive !he 0ro&"s o3 o"eri!y a chace !o evolve9 &lie

!he Eas! 2here i! 2as "i33&se" a" si!!e" !o !ra"i!ioal social sy!he!i7a!io

circ&s!aces i E&ro+e 2ere s&ch !ha! i! co&l" rea"ily #e a"o+!e" a" i!eriori7e" as a

+rici+le 3or res!r&c!&ri0 h&a li3e as a 2hole6

irs!6 The "e0ree o3 co+le*i!y r&li0 !he "ialec!ic #e!2ee scarci!y a" +ro"&c!ivis

i !he ;ecooy82orl"; 2hich ha" #ee "evelo+e" i E&ro+e 2as i !he eleve!h

ce!&ry &"o!e"ly !he os! +roo&ce" i o2 his!orical circ&s!aces6 There

2ere several ;!e+era!e 7oes; o !he +lae! i 2hich a e*a00era!e" hi0h "e0ree o3

co+le*i!y o3 !he sys!e !ha! .ois +ro"&c!io ca+aci!ies 2i!h cos&er ecessi!ies i

!he social e!a#olis 2as o! a &&s&al e*cess #&! a 0eerali7e" co"i!io o3

e*is!ece9 i o!her 2or"s !here 2ere i !he +lae! +le!y o3 re0ios i 2hich !he

"evelo+e! o3 a ha" #ecoe a ecessi!y 3or Na!&re i!sel3 (Q)6 O3 all !hese

ho2ever oly !he ;sall co!ie!; o3 E&ro+e 3o&" i!sel3 i !he i"s! o3 a;civili7a!ioal revol&!io; a" ivolve" i !he +rocess o3 cos!r&c!i0 i!sel3 as a

cocre!e !o!ali!y o3 +ro"&c!ive 3orces6 A! !he !ie i! 2as !he oly re0io !ha! ha" !he

a++ro+ria!e eviroe! 3or !he acce+!ace a" c&l!iva!io o3 a eve! 2hich cosis!e"

+riarily o3 +o!e!ia!i0 !he +ro"&c!ivi!y o3 h&a la#or a" !h&s o3 e*!e"i0 !he scale

o3 h&a e!a#olis 2i!h Na!&re6 A#ove all as a ecooic 2orl" 2hich 2as i a

+osi!io !o "ivi"e 2or re0ioally 2hile ai!aii0 !echolo0ical coherece 2i!hi i!s

i+recise #&! &"eia#le 0eo0ra+hical 3ro!iers !he E&ro+ea co!ie! ha" !he;o+!ial eas&re; !o #e !he sceario o3 s&ch a eve!6


26/46

Seco"6 D&ri0 !he eer0ece o3 E&ro+e !he ercha"i7a!io o3 !he +rocess o3 !he

circ&la!io o3 2eal!h 88acco+aie" #y i!s 3&"ae!al !ool val&e a" i!s ey

o+era!io e*cha0e #y e%&i8valece88 2e! #eyo" !he lii!s o3 !his s+here a"

+ee!ra!e" !he very s!r&c!&re o3 +ro"&c!io a" cos&+!io6 Moreover i! #ecae

0eerali7e" as !he real sor"ia!io o3 cocre!e 2or a" e.oye! !o oly oe o3

!heir real "iesios !ha! i 2hich !hey e*is!e" i a#s!rac! !ers as si+le ac!s o3

crys!alli7i0 a" "e8crys!alli7i0 val&e6 The e*cha0e o3 e%&i8vale!s 2as o lo0er .&s!

oe o3 !he o"es o3 !rasac!io 2hich coe*is!e" hel+e" a" hi"ere" each o!her o a

are! !ha! ha" lii!e" i!sel3 !o #ei0 !he eas #y 2hich 0oo"s co&l" ;cha0e ha"s;

oce !hey ha" #ee +ro"&ce" a" 2eal!h 2hich 2as i !he s!ric! sese s&r+l&s co&l"

#e circ&la!e"6 The +erio" "&ri0 2hich i! co&l" "o o ore !ha e*er! a re83ori0 or

;e*!erior i3l&ece; o !he e!a#olis o3 !he social #o"y 2as o2 i !he +as!6 I! o2

!e"e" !o oo+oli7e !he #&l o3 !his ;cha0i0 o3 ha"s; o3 coo"i!ies !o +roo!e

a" +rivile0e !he are! o3 s!oc s!ill o! +ro"&ce" (3&c!ioi0 as a cre"i! echais)

!h&s #ecoi0 a !echical i!ere"iary esse!ial !o !he re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h6

The ercha"i7a!io o3 !he ecooic li3e i E&ro+e rei3ie" !he echais o3 !he

circ&la!io o3 2eal!h as !he s.ec! !he hi""e ha" !ha! "is!ri#&!e" 2eal!h6 Th&s

0ra"&ally re"&ce" !he !ra"i!ioal +o2er o3 co&i!ies a" la"lor"s as archaic

+oli!ical s.ec!s !o i!er3ere i !he "is!ri#&!io o3 0oo"s a" i !heir

+ro"&c!iocos&+!io6 I! also 3ree" or eaci+a!e" !he i"ivi"&al 2orer 3ro his

re0ioal o#li0a!ios #y iser!i0 hi i3 oly as a +rici+le i !he &iversalis o3 !he

asce! 2orl" are!6

Thir"6 The Chris!ia !ras3ora!io o3 !he >e2ish i"e!i!y 2hich co&l" oly #e

acco+lishe" #y re83&c!ioali7i0 reco8Roa i"e!i!y a" co&l" oly #e

cosoli"a!e" #y coloi7i0 !he eraic i"e!i!ies ha" +re+are" !he y!hical s!r&c!&reo3 +rac!ice a" "isco&rse o3 !he E&ro+ea +eo+les 88i a co&!er+oi! "ialo0&e 2i!h !he

ercha"i7a!io o3 every"ay li3e 88 !o acco+ay a" #oos! !he 3lo2eri0 o3 o"eri!y6

=&a #ei0s 2ere o2 e*+erieci0 i !heir o2 lives a co3lic!ive #ehavior !ha! ha"

a schi7oi" s!r&c!&re6 :hile !hey i0h! have a so&l !heir +erso 2as oly i!eres!e" i

val&e9 2hile !hey i0h! have a #o"y !hey oly ha" eyes 3or i!s &se8val&e6 A#ove all as

#elievers i o" as e#ers o3 !he ecclesia a" e%&al i !he eyes o3 o" !hey reali7e"

!hey ha" #ecoe ivolve" i a his!orical e!er+rise !ha! "e+e"e" o i!iacy i or"er!o #e collec!ive a" "e+e"e" o !he collec!ivi!y i or"er !o #e i!ia!e6 This 2as oe


27/46

o!her !ha !he e!er+rise o3 !he salva!io o3 !he h&a race 88a &iversal e"eavor o

!he +ar! o3 !ha! ol" ;+eo+le o3 o"; o3 >e2ish reli0io oce i! ha" #ee elar0e" a"

&iversali7e"88 2hich co&l" i!e0ra!e all !he i"ivi"&al "es!iies o3 a&!och!hoo&s

co&i!ies a" +ro+ose ;oe sole sese a" +&r+ose; a" oe sole ra!ioali!y (i3 o!

oe sole la0&a0e) coo !o all6

:i!ho&! !his +rece"e! o3 !he s+o!aeo&s c&l!&ral +ro!o8o"eri!y o3 e&ro+ea"

:es!er civili7a!io ca+i!alis !ha! ol" Me"i!erraea o"e o3 #ehavior "e!erii0

!he circ&la!io o3 erca!ile 2eal!h co&l" ever have #ecoe !he "oia! o"e o3

re+ro"&ci0 social 2eal!h6 The o++osi!e is also !r&e4 2i!ho&! ca+i!alis !he 0ro&"s o3

o"eri!y 2o&l" ever have s&ccee"e" i cover!i0 2ha! 2ere oly o"er

+re3i0&ra!ios a" !e"ecies o3 E&ro+ea :es! i!o a "evelo+e" 3or icl&"i0 every

as+ec! o3 social e*is!ece i!o a e33ec!ive o"eri!y6

Ca+i!alis ee"e" !he E&ro+ea cocre!eess i or"er !o #ecoe a o"e o3

re+ro"&c!io o3 social 2eal!h9 oce i! ha" #ee cos!i!&!e" as s&ch (a" !he E&ro+ea

co!ie! ha" #ee o"eri7e") i! co&l" "is+ese 2i!h !his ;c&vili7a!ioary h&&s;

a" e*!e" all over !he +lae! i+rovisi0 a" hoc eco&!ers a" coici"eces 2i!h

civili7a!ios !ha! 2ere +o!e!ially alie or eve hos!ile !o !he 0ro&"s o3 o"eri!y6

I or"er !o #ecoe a e33ec!ive reali!y !he essece o3 o"eri!y ha" !o #e ;2ore" o&!;

i accor"ace 2i!h !he ;elec!ive a33ii!ies; #e!2ee !he +ro!o8o"eri!y o3 E&ro+ea

li3e a" !he ca+i!alis! 3or o3 !he circ&la!io o3 0oo"s6 I or"er !ha! o"eri!y i0h!

a"o+! e2 e33ec!ive 3ors a" "evelo+ i o!her "irec!ios i! 2o&l" #e ecessary !ha!

o!her a33ii!ies #e!2ee civili7a!ioary a" ecooic 3ors i!ervee !o cha0e !he

+&r+ose o3 !his ;2or;6

I! !oo ca+i!alis ori0ially a circ&la!ory +heoeo a e!ire e+och !o +ee!ra!e !he

s+here o3 +ro"&c!io a" cos&+!io9 oce +recio&s e!als 3ro !he Aericas ha"

3orce" a re8eval&a!io o3 E&ro+ea a&3ac!&re" ar!icles i! 2as "iscovere" !ha! !he real0ro&"s o3 !he +o!e!ial o3 ca+i!alis lay o! i !he e+heeral +lay 2i!h !he !ers o3

3orei0 e*cha0e #&! i e*+loi!i0 !he 2or 3orce9 i o!her 2or"s !ha! !he real I"ies

2ere 2i!hi !he co&!rys o2 ecooy (;Correc! yo&r a+s Ne2cas!le is Per&U;)6

D&ri0 !his +erio" !he E&ro+ea ecooic s+here e*+a"e" a" co!rac!e" &!il i!

3ially es!a#lishe" i!s "e3ii!ive #o&"aries9 i!s &cle&s .&+e" 3ro So&!h !o Nor!h

3ro Eas! !o :es! 3ro ci!y !o ci!y coce!ra!i0 a" assi0i0 3&c!ios6 or !his

reaso i! is o2 as !he !ie 2he !he co+e!i!io coceri0 !he "i33ere! +ossi#le+ro.ec!s o3 o"eri!y 2as eve!&ally resolve" i3 2i!h "i33ic&l!y i 3avor o3 !he oe !ha!


28/46

"eos!ra!e" !he 0rea!es! 3iress i !he ha"li0 o3 ca+i!alis as a o"e o3

+ro"&c!io6 The +ro.ec! "eci"e" &+o 2as !ha! 2hich o33ere" 3irs! a" 3oreos! a

sol&!io !o !he +ro#le o3 !he resis!ace o3 !he i"ivi"&al a" co&al #o"y !o

sacri3ice i!s +illios a" 2hich 0&ara!ee" a o#sessively !hri3!y a" +ro"&c!ivis!ic

ecooic #ehavior9 !ha! +ro.ec! 2hich ha" !he a#ili!y !o acco+lish !his #eca&se !he

Chris!ia i"e!i!y 2hich ac!e" as i!s s&++or! 2as 3ree" 3ro !he cocre!e cosis!ecy

(Me"i!erraea a" >e2ish) o3 i!s reli0io&s ecclesia 88+erce+!i#le 3or all i a cor+oral

a" e*!erior aer88 a" receive" a "i33ere! +&rely a#s!rac! a" i"ivi"&al reli0iosi!y

(i+rovise" a3!er !he "es!r&c!io o3 !he eraic co&i!ies) !ha! #ecae a

i+erce+!i#le %&es!io 3or o!hers a +&rely ier eve! i 2hich oral "ili0ece !ai0

!he 3or o3 sel383&l3ille! coici"e" 2i!h !he oral or !ai0 !he 3or o3 a

"ea" a"e &+o oe sel36

Thesis V

The Poli!ical i Mo"eri!y4 Soverei0!y a" Aliea!io

I3 2ha! "e!eries !he li3e o3 h&a #ei0 is his +oli!ical charac!er 88!he 3ac! !ha!

co3i0&ri0 a" re8co3i0&ri0 his sociali!y is ore i+or!a! !o hi !ha !he #asic

ac!ivi!y !ha! re+ro"&ces his aiali!y88 Mar*s !heory coceri0 aliea!io a"

3e!ishis is &"o!e"ly !he os! "ecisive coce+!&al s!ar!i08+oi! 3or a "isc&ssio o3

!he reco0i7a#le lis #e!2ee o"eri!y a" ca+i!alis6

I or"er !o s&rvive h&a li#er!y has +ara"o*ically ha" !o "ey i!sel3 as +oli!ical

li#er!y soverei0!y or !he e*ercise o3 a&!ary i every"ay social li3e6 I! i0h! #e sai"

!ha! !he associa!io o3 cocre!e i"ivi"&als 88!ha! ori0ial ;0ro&+ i 3&sio; 2hich &s!

#e !ae as !he +reise88 re3&ses !o 0over i!sel3 sice i! is !erri3ie" #y !he a0i!&"e o3

!he e!er+rise9 or !ha! o !he co!rary i! is #y a!&re ico+a!i#le 2i!h ay sese o3

+eraece a" "oes o! +ossess !he a#ili!y !o acce+! a" asser! i!sel3 as a is!i!&!io6I! is !r&e !ha! h&a #ei0s have #ee a2are o3 !he e*is!ece o3 !heir +oli!ical li#er!y

soverei0!y a" +o2er o3 sel380overe! !hro&0ho&! !heir his!ory #&! oly as a

le0e"ary i"ea !ha! is e*!erior a" alie !o !he a" co&l" ever #e +&! i!o +rac!ice i

!heir every"ay lives9 lie !he o!i3 o3 a arra!ive !o 2hose real e33ec!s !hey ay oly

si0 !he +raises or &!!er c&rses6

:i!ho&! !ai0 i!o acco&! !hose oe!s o3 si0&lar his!orical !esio 2hich 3all

2i!hi !he #rie3 !ie s+a o3 a &i%&e heroic "ee" or !hose +ar!s o3 re0ioal his!ory2hich are +rovisioally +ro!ec!e" a0ais! !he lar0er his!orical 3rae2or (a" !o !his


29/46

e*!e! "e8reali7e") oe cao! "ey !ha! !he cocre!e h&a i"ivi"&al as a

associa!io o3 i"ivi"&als or a i"ivi"&al +erso has ha" #ee +rac!ically o

o++or!&i!ies !o e*ercise his 3ree"o #y hi sel3 i !he 3or o3 sel380overe! a" !o

"o i! +osi!ively !ha! is #y e.oyi0 !he +hysical li3e !ha! ea#les hi !o #e sel38

0overi06 :he!her "irec!ly or i"irec!ly !he e*ercise o3 !he +oli!ical 3ac&l!y 88as a o!

0ra!e" "ele0a!e" !rasi!!e" or re3lec!e" e*ercise88 has al2ays ha" !o #e

acco+lishe" o e0a!ive !ers (#y sacri3ici0 +hysical li3e) as a !ras0ressio or a

challe0e as a 3or o3 re#ellio a0ais! e*!ra8+oli!ical co0loera!es o3 es!a#lishe"

+o2er (ecooic reli0io&s e!c6)6 Parasi!es i cocre!e social li3e #&! ecessary !o i!s

re+ro"&c!io !he co0loera!es o3 +o2er have coce!ra!e" a" oo+oli7e" 3or

!heselves !he a#ili!y !o re+ro"&ce !he 3or social li3e !aes !o c&l!iva!e a cocre!e

i"e!i!y o3 !he co&i!y (+olis) a" !o "eci"e ao0 !he al!era!ives o3 e*is!ece !ha!

his!ory +laces #e3ore i!6

I his !heory o3 aliea!io Mar* "ecos!r&c!s !he +oli!ical c&l!&re o3 o"eri!y9 he s!ar!s

#y shari0 !his &"o!e"ly acc&ra!e arra!ive o3 !he his!ory o3 +oli!ical li3e 883ro i!s

+er3orace i !he "es+o!ic a" !heocra!ic "is+osi!ios !o his reali7a!io i !he s!a!e8

"eocra!ic 0overe!88 as !he i+laca#le his!ory o3 a voca!io "es!ie" !o #e

!h2ar!e"6 Accor"i0 !o Mar* !he o"er e*!ra8+oli!ical co0loera!e o3 +o2er 2hich

arro0a!es a" 2iel"s !he ri0h! !o oi!or socie!ys e*ercise o3 soverei0!y as 2ell as !o

i!ervee i i!s #asic or0ai7a!io is !he res&l! o3 !he -al&e o3 ca+i!alis! ercha"ise as

a ;a&!oa!ic s.ec!;6 I! is a +o2er 2iel"e" a0ais! !he co&i!y as a +ossi#le

associa!io o3 3ree i"ivi"&als #&! &!ili7i0 i!s collec!ive a!&re 2hich ca oly

+erceive !he recless as+ec! o3 a +ro.ec! o3 i!s o29 reo&ci0 i!s li#er!y i! #ecoes

is!alle" i !he +ra0a!is o3 !he real+oli!i a" o33ers i!s o#e"iece !o 2ha!ever

is!ace or ca&"illo 2ho ca ass&re i!s s&rvival i !he shor! !er6

I accor"ace 2i!h Mar*s "iscovery !he val&e !ha! ac!s o !he ca+i!alis! circ&la!io o3social 2eal!h is "i33ere! 3ro !ha! 2hich is i +lay i !he erely erca!ile circ&la!io

o3 !he sae4 i !he la!!er case i! is o ore !ha a !hir" +erso i !he e*cha0e o3

coo"i!ies 2hile i !he 3orer i! is !he ;is!i0a!i0 s.ec!; o3 !he sae6 To #e val&e

here is !o #e ca+i!al #eca&se as Mar* 2ri!es4

Really a" !r&ly 666 val&e is here !he ac!ive 3ac!or i a +rocess i 2hich 2hile

co!i&ally ass&i0 #y !&rs !he 3or o3 oey a" !he 3or o3 coo"i!ies i! a!

!he sae !ie cha0es i a0i!&"e 0ives #ir!h !o s&r+l&s val&e so !ha! !he ori0ialval&e s+o!aeo&sly e*+a"s6 or !he ovee! i 2hich i! a""s !o i!sel3 a


30/46

s&r+l&s val&e is i!s o2 ovee! i!s e*+asio i!s sel38e*+asio6 I! has ac%&ire" !he

occ&l! %&ali!y o3 #ei0 a#le !o a"" val&e !o i!sel3 666 I si+le circ&la!io !he val&e

o3 coo"i!ies ac%&ires o!hi0 ore !ha !he i"e+e"e! 3or o3 oey as

co3ro!i0 !heir &se8 val&es9 #&! o2 666 i !he circ&la!io o3 ca+i!al !his sae val&e

s&""ely +rese!s i!sel3 as ss!ace e"o2e" 2i!h a i"e+e"e! o!io o3 i!s

o2 a ss!ace o3 2hich coo"i!ies a" oey are !heselves erely 3ors6 Nay

ore6 Is!ea" o3 re+rese!i0 rela!ios o3 coo"i!ies i! e!ers so !o say i!o a

+riva!e rela!io !o i!sel3666 (5)

Is!alle" i !he s+here o3 erca!ile circ&la!io !he -al&e o3 ca+i!alis! ercha"ise has

o! oly "irec!ly &s&r+e" (?#er0ri3e) 3ro !he h&a co&i!y !he loca!io i 2hich

i! !aes "ecisios coceri0 !he corres+o"ece #e!2ee i!s sys!e o3 cos&er

"ea" a" i!s sys!e o3 +ro"&c!io s&++ly #&! has i"irec!ly &s&r+e" !he 3&"ae!al

+oli!ical loca!io i 2hich i! "eci"es &+o i!s o2 i"e!i!y !ha! is !he +ar!ic&lar 3or o3

i!s sociali!y or !he cocre!e 3i0&re o3 !he social i!errela!ioshi+s +revaili0 i i!6

The "e3erral o3 a&!ary or !he ;aliea!io; o3 !he +oli!ical 3ac&l!y o3 !he social s.ec!

2hich is !he essece o3 !he ;+heoeo o3 rei3ica!io; has #ee sel"o ra"ically

"eo&ce" #y Mar*is! revol&!ioary +olicy6 A" ay2ay !he ac! o3 "eo&ci0 has ha"

+rac!ically 7ero e33ec! o !he every"ay +ra*is o3 !his +olicy6 The ;aliea!io !heory; has

o! serve" Mar*is!s as a 0&i"e #eca&se !heir coce+! o3 revol&!io has reaie"

#o&"e" !o !he +oli!icis! y!h o3 revol&!io 2hich re"&ces !he a&!ary o3 !he social

s.ec! !o !he ere soverei0!y o3 !he +oli!ical socie!y a" i!s s!a!e6 Al!ho&0h !he

Mar*is! !ra"i!io has "evelo+e" a er o3 esse!ial elee!s a !heory o3 revol&!io

#ase" o !he Mar*ia coce+! o3 aliea!io is s!ill issi06

The aliea!io !heory as a +oli!ical !heory sho&l" #e #ase" o !he reco0i!io o3 oe

!hi04 !he &s&r+a!io o3 social soverei0!y #y !he ;re+lic o3 !he ercha"ise; a" i!s

ca+i!alis! ;"ic!a!orshi+; cao! #e !ho&0h! o3 as !he cose%&ece o3 a ac! o3e*+ro+ria!io o a 0ive "a!e o3 a o#.ec! or a %&ali!y #elo0i0 !o a s.ec! a" !h&s

as a s!a!e o3 +aralysis or a&le! o3 !he +oli!ical 3ac&l!y o3 socie!y (so lo0 as !he

essiaic ho&r o3 !he revol&!io "oes o! chie)6 This &s&r+a!io is a +erae! eve!

o3 ca+i!alis! socie!y9 i! is a cos!a! +rocess i 2hich !he ys!i3ica!io o3 +oli!ical 2ill

ca oly !ae +lace +arasi!ically a" a! !he sae !ie as !his 2ill is #ei0 3ore"6

Ca+i!al is a e!i!y 2hich is i i!sel3 alie !o !he +ar!ic&lar s+here o3 +oli!ical cocers9

3ar 3ro e*ercisi0 i!s +oli!ical ;aa0ee!; as soe!hi0 i+ose" o a es!a#lishe"+oli!ical 2orl" #y a ecooic e*!erior i! relies o !he cos!r&c!io o3 a +oli!ical


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i!eriori!y i!sel3 o !he is!alla!io o3 a +ec&liar s+here o3 +oli!ical li3e i"is+esa#le !o

socie!y4 +recisely !ha! o3 +ar!y +oli!ics !o 2i !he ri0h! !o 0over +lic a33airs 2i!hi

!he a!ioal "eocra!ic s!a!e6

The vi!ali!y o3 o"er +oli!ical c&l!&re is #ase" o !he o0oi0 co3lic! #e!2ee !he

+&lsa!ios !ha! res!ore a" recos!i!&!e !he ;a!&ral; +oli!ical 3ac&l!y o3 !he social

s.ec! a" !he "is+osi!ios !ha! !he re+ro"&c!io o3 ca+i!al has sei7e" 3or !he

or0ai7a!io o3 social li3e6

Al!ho&0h !here are "i33ereces #e!2ee !he !2o !he %&es!io o3 a&!ary a" !he

%&es!io o3 "eocracy are ise+ara#le6 I a revol&!ioary sese !he 3orer a!!e+!s !o

3oc&s i!s "e#a!e o !he +ossi#ili!ies socie!y has o3 3reei0 !he +oli!ical ac!ivi!ies o3 !he

h&a i"ivi"&als s!ar!i0 2i!h socie!ys a#ili!y !o reco%&er i!s soverei0!y or +oli!ical

3ac&l!y 2hich is i3es!e" #y !he "es!r&c!ive (a!i8social a!i8a!&ral) 3&c!ioi0 o3

!he acc&&la!io o3 ca+i!al6 I a re3oris! sese !he la!!er a!!e+!s o !he co!rary !o

3oc&s i!s "e#a!e 2i!hi !he !ers o3 !he ;really e*is!i0; soverei0!y o 2ha!

+ossi#ili!ies !he "eocra!ic 0ae o3 !he o"er s!a!e has !o icrease +o+&lar

+ar!ici+a!io so as !o &lli3y !he e0a!ive e33ec!s o3 ecooic s!r&c!&ral ie%&ali!y o

social li3e6 Never!heless !he ar0&e!s +ro"&ce" #y !he revol&!ioary a" !he re3oris!

lies o3 &!&al a!!ac coici"e o oe +oi!4 !he i"ea !ha! !he ;o"e o3 +ro"&c!io;

cao! #e re+lace" i3 socie!y "oes o! #ecoe "eocra!ic a! !he sae !ie a" !he i"ea

!ha! "eocracy cao! #e +er3ec!e" i3 !he ;o"e o3 +ro"&c!io; is o! ra"ically

!ras3ore" a! !he sae !ie6

I3 !he +oli!ical !heory #ase" o !he coce+! o3 rei3ica!io acce+!s !ha! +oli!ical ac!io is

+ossi#le 2i!hi rei3ica!io !ha! eve !ho&0h socie!y is "e+rive" o3 i!s +ossi#le

soverei0!y i! is o! +oli!ically io#ili7e" or +araly7e" or co"ee" !o a2ai! !he

essiaic ho&r 2he i!s +oli!ical li#er!y 2ill #e re!&re" !o i! !he !he +ro#le is oe o3

es!a#lishi0 !he +ara+ra*is (3ehlleis!&0) o3 !he ys!i3ie" +oli!ics #y 3&l3illi0 !hei+era!ive o3 erca!ile socie!y o3 "evisi0 a real +oli!ical sceario a" a a++ro+ria!e

"eocra!ic 0ae 3or !he !ras&!a!io o3 i!s civil i!eres!s i!o a +oli!ical 2ill6 Oly o

!his #asis 2ill i! #e a#le !o .&"0e !he o"e i 2hich a" !he e*!e! !o 2hich !he "ee+

vi!ali!y o3 !he "eocra!ic 0ae ca #e lea" !o !he +oi! i 2hich revol&!io ay #e a

ac!&al iss&e6

Thesis 1WMo"er -iolece4 Cor+oreali!y as :ora#ili!y


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Peace !he e*cl&sio o3 violece co%&ere" #y ca+i!alis! o"eri!y 3or %&o!i"ia

coe*is!ece is o! a 3ac! !ha! relies as ha++es i o!her civili7a!ioal or"ers o !he

a"iis!ra!io o3 violece #&! o i!s ys!i3ica!io6

Social li3e has al2ays ee"e" !o +ro"&ce a" re+ro"&ce 2i!hi i!s 3rae2or a! leas! a

si&lacr& o3 +eace a ;lii!e" #&! +erae! cease83ire; a o"ic& o3 social

haroy i3 i! is !o +ersis! i i!s 3or !o #e or0aic or civili7e" a" i a +osi!io !o

asser! i!sel3 2he !hrea!ee" #y is!a#ili!y 3ra0e!a!io or sava0ery 88charac!eris!ics

o3 sociali!y ;i 3&sio; (revol&!io) or 3alli0 a+ar! (ca!as!ro+he)6 I! is i+ossi#le !o

ai!ai i!eral +eace i a socie!y !ha! has #ee cos!r&c!e" o !he his!orical

co"i!ios o3 scarci!y6 Scarci!y &s! #e i!erali7e" a" 3&c!ioali7e" i !he

re+ro"&c!io o3 socie!y a" !he oly 2ay !o "o i! is #y eas o3 sys!ea!ic i.&s!ice i

!he "is!ri#&!io o3 2eal!h6 I !hese circ&s!aces violece #ecoes !he ecessary o"e

o3 co"&c! o3 !he os! +rivile0e" e#ers o3 socie!y !o2ar"s !he leas! hare"6

There3ore !he +aci3ie" 7oe (!he si&lacr& o3 a 0eerali7e" i!eral +eace) ca oly

e*is! 2he 88#esi"es !he echaiss o3 re+ressio88 !here is soe +aci3ic "iss&asio

"evice 2hich i"&ces a reac!io o3 sel38#loca"e o !he +ar! o3 !he e*+loi!e" o3 !he

viole! reac!io !ha! is #ee +rovoe" #y e*+loi!a!io a" i.&s!ice6 Thas !o !his !he

e*+loi!ers violece is o! oly !olera!e" #&! is acce+!e" #y !he e*+loi!e"6 The

cosis!ecy a" 3&c!io o3 !his "evice are +recisely 2ha! "is!i0&ish !he si&lacr& o3

social +eace i ca+i!alis! o"eri!y 3ro o!her siilar si&lacra 3ro 3orer !ies (or

s!ill !o #e "iscovere")6

Mar* s!a!es4 ;O !he #asis o3 !he 2a0es sys!e eve !he &+ai" la#or sees !o #e +ai"

la#or6 :i!h !he slave o !he co!r

modernity and capitalism (15 theses)

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