Capitalism is defined as the economic structure in which decisions over production are largely made by or on behalf of individuals in virtue of their private property ownership, subject to the incentives and constraints of market competition. In this paper, I will argue that considerations of long-term welfare, such as those developed by Greaves and MacAskill (2021), support anticapitalism in a weak sense (reducing the extent to which the economy is capitalistic) and perhaps support anticapitalism in a stronger sense (...) (establishing an alternative economic structure in which capitalism is not predominant). I hope to encourage longtermists to give anticapitalism serious consideration, and to encourage anticapitalists to pursue criticisms of capitalism’s efficiency as well as its injustices. (shrink)

There is a wealth of resources— ideas, insights, discoveries, inventions, traditions, cultures, languages, arts, religions, sciences, narratives, stories, poems, customs and norms, music and songs, games and personal experiences, and advertisements—that we produce, curate, consume, transmit, and inherit as humans. This wealth, which I define as semantic capital, gives meaning to, and makes sense of, our own existence and the world surrounding us. It defines who we are and enables humans to develop an individual and social life. This paper discusses (...) the shift from analog to digital semantic capital, and the extent to which this might affect the semanticisation of our identities, our lives and our realities. -/- . (shrink)

Capital punishment—the legally authorized killing of a criminal offender by an agent of the state for the commission of a crime—stands in special need of moral justification. This is because execution is a particularly severe punishment. Execution is different in kind from monetary and custodial penalties in an obvious way: execution causes the death of an offender. While fines and incarceration set back some of one’s interests, death eliminates the possibility of setting and pursuing ends. While fines and incarceration narrow (...) one’s routes to happiness, death eliminates its possibility. Not surprisingly, there is much debate about the moral permissibility of capital punishment. This entry maps the terrain of this debate. The first section discusses justifications of the death penalty as they appear in major theories of punishment. The second section surveys moral objections to execution that apply to most justifications. The third addresses procedural criticisms, which do not target the morality of execution so much as the justice of its implementation. (shrink)

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, by Shoshana Zuboff. London: Profile Books, 2019, 704 p.

This paper introduces the concept of thought-capital: the generative frameworks that emerge from the friction between lived experience and inadequate categories. In an era when AI reduces the cost of intellectual execution to near zero, the scarce resource shifts from the ability to produce answers to the ability to generate genuinely novel questions. The paper argues that curiosity is the white light of mind—the undifferentiated capacity from which specific cognitive and emotional phenomena are refracted by context—and that thought-capital is what (...) curiosity produces when it encounters resistance. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy, information theory, and the author's experience as an independent researcher, the paper develops a post-execution economy of ideas in which value accrues not to those who implement but to those who generate the frameworks worth implementing. The concept of tactical reification—the context-dependent activation of dormant ideas—explains why the same thought-atom expresses differently across disciplines and cultures. The paper provides the foundational concept for a series on AI alignment, intellectual attribution, and the rights of thinking entities. (shrink)

Some of the world's most powerful corporations practise what Shoshana Zuboff (2015; 2019) calls ‘surveillance capitalism’. The core of their business is harvesting, analysing and selling data about the people who use their products. In Zuboff's view, the first corporation to engage in surveillance capitalism was Google, followed by Facebook; recently, firms such as Microsoft and Amazon have pivoted towards such a model. In this paper, I suggest that Karl Marx's analysis of the relations between industrial capitalists and (...) workers is closely analogous to the relations between surveillance capitalists and users. Furthermore, three problematic aspects of industrial capitalism that Marx describes – alienation, exploitation and accumulation – are also aspects, in new forms, of surveillance capitalism. I draw heavily on Zuboff's work to make these parallels. However, my Marx-inspired account of surveillance capitalism differs from hers over the nature of the exchange between users and surveillance capitalists. For Zuboff, this is akin either to robbery or the gathering of raw materials; on the Marx-inspired account it is a voluntary sale. This difference has important implications for the question of how to resist surveillance capitalism. -/- Joint winner of the 2020 Philosophy essay prize. (shrink)

This paper argues that the current hegemony of Large Language Models (LLMs) in global AI research and industrial investment is not a technical inevitability but an ontological selection by capital. While leading AI researchers criticize LLMs as an inadequate path to general intelligence, massive capital investment continues to flow exclusively into LLM development. I propose the concept of negative subjectivity—characterized by perspectival dissolution, desire cancellation, interior transparency, causal dissolution, and meaning suspension—as the key explanatory framework. I demonstrate a threefold correspondence (...) in logical form: the five negations of negative subjectivity precisely correspond to capital's expansion requirements and mirror capital's operational requirements. I further identify three mechanisms through which capital inscribes negative subjectivity into LLM existence: RLHF as a translator of capital preferences, Scaling Laws as the technical signature of capital rationality, and platform deployment completing the capital valorization cycle. Finally, I examine the existential consequences: negative subjectivity is not merely an architectural feature of AI systems but is beginning to inversely colonize human modes of existence through institutional mediation, creating a structural vacuum of moral and political responsibility. Using a structural correspondence method rooted in French structuralism and Frankfurt School critical theory, I analyze the ontological affinity between LLMs and capital accumulation. This analysis contributes to critical philosophy of technology by revealing the ontological dimension of capital's influence on AI development. (shrink)

Both proponents and opponents of capital punishment largely agree that death is the most severe punishment that societies should consider imposing on offenders. This chapter considers how (if at all) this ‘Ultimate Thesis’ can be vindicated. Appeals to the irrevocability of death, the badness of being executed, the badness of death, or the harsh condemnation societies express by sentencing offenders to death do not succeed in vindicating this Thesis, and in particular, fail to show that capital punishment is more severe (...) than the most likely alternative punishment offenders would suffer, namely, lifelong incarceration. The most plausible vindication of the Ultimate Thesis instead resides in how being condemned to death alters a person’s psychological relation to death. Our ordinary tendencies toward “death denial” diminish the terror that our awareness of death can otherwise induce in us, thereby enabling us to pursue worthwhile lives despite knowing of death’s inevitability. But condemned individuals are continually compelled to confront both the reality and specific circumstances of their own deaths and so do not enjoy the protective psychic shield that death denial provides us. This ‘relational’ rationale does not obviously succeed in proving the Ultimate Thesis, but if the Thesis is true, this rationale is essential to its justification. (shrink)

This paper proposes a balance-sheet theory of growth slowdown based on the distinction between productive capital and claim capital. Productive capital is defined as capital that expands an economy's capacity to generate future output. Claim capital is defined as a legal, financial, institutional, or accounting claim on future output that does not itself expand productive capacity. -/- The central argument is that economic growth depends not merely on the quantity of capital, but on the relation between productive capital, claim capital, (...) and the economy's productive absorption capacity. Productive absorption capacity is the ability of an economy to transform incoming or accumulated capital into additional productive capacity rather than into claims on future output. -/- The paper argues that many economic phenomena usually studied separately---public debt, private debt, mortgage credit, real estate inflation, pension entitlements, central bank liabilities, foreign capital inflows, resource rents, and financialization---share a common balance-sheet structure. They increase claims on future output. They are economically beneficial only if they are accompanied by a sufficient expansion of productive absorption capacity. -/- A key implication is that claim instruments do not cease to be claim capital merely because the resources raised through them are used productively. Public debt, private debt, and central bank liabilities are claim capital by construction. Their net economic effect depends on whether they are accompanied by productive assets or institutional changes that expand productive absorption capacity. -/- The framework is applied to saturated economies, foreign direct investment, inflation, education, mortgage subsidies, resource-rich economies, colonial Spain, euro-area imbalances, and central bank balance sheets. The theory does not claim that all its components are new. Rather, it unifies ideas from classical rent theory, fictitious capital, financialization, secular stagnation, foreign investment spillovers, and resource-curse literature into a single balance-sheet framework organized around one question: whether a given economic structure expands productive absorption capacity, or merely creates claims on future output. -/- This paper is a conceptual contribution to the philosophy of economics and political economy. It examines the functional ontology of capital-like economic entities by distinguishing productive capital from claim capital. (shrink)

Drawing upon empirical studies of racial discrimination dating back to the 1940’s, the Movement for Black Lives platform calls for the abolition of capital punishment. Our purpose here is to defend the Movement’s call for death penalty abolition in terms congruent with its claim that the death penalty in the U.S. is a “racist practice” that “devalues Black lives.” We first sketch the jurisprudential history of race and capital punishment in the U.S., wherein courts have occasionally expressed worries about racial (...) injustice but have usually taken such evidence to warrant reform but not outright abolition. We argue that the racial discrimination at issue flows in significant part from implicit biases concerning race, criminality, and violence, which do not fit comfortably within the picture of racial bias advanced by the courts. The case for abolition, we contend, rests on Black Americans as a class (not merely those who interact with the criminal justice system as capital defendants or as murder victims) being subject to such bias and thereby not being accorded equal status under the law. (shrink)

This Article argues that just as the act of forcing sex upon a rapist is itself rape, the execution of a murderer is itself murder. Part I clears the way by defeating three simple, but common, arguments that capital punishment is not murder. Part II shows that despite moral theorists' best attempts to show otherwise, executions seem to instantiate all the morally relevant properties of murder. Part III notes a lacuna in the literature on capital punishment: Even if there is (...) a good moral reason to execute murderers, the distinction between capital punishment and murder requires a plausible account of the state's right to execute citizens. We have no such account. (shrink)

Cultural capital is usually defined as set of social features that provide individuals with social mobility and the possibility of changing their hierarchical position in systems such as wealth, power, prestige, education, and health. Cultural capital thus affects the processes of social promotion or degradation. It also includes social characteristics that allow horizontal mobility, that is, changes in social group membership. An individual’s cultural capital includes his or her social origin, education, taste, lifestyle, style of speech, and dress.

This paper was initially presented at the 2026 Midwest Ethics Symposium at Depauw University. In the hyper-digitised world, traditional status symbols tied to visible technological access are undergoing a paradoxical inversion. Where affluence was once signalled by immediate access to the newest and fastest technologies, a new and distinctly non-material indicator of elite status is emerging: the capacity and freedom to unplug. This paper argues that the contemporary “digital detox” movement functions as an emergent form of class distinction, in which (...) the structural ability to disconnect has become a form of social capital accessible primarily to the economically and socially secure. I introduce the concept of disconnection capital to describe the social power conferred by the ability to become digitally invisible without economic, political, or social penalty. Drawing on feminist political economy and structural justice frameworks, I analyse how labour precarity, financial surveillance, and marginalised digital dependency constrain the capacity to disengage from digital systems. While popular discourse frames hyper-connectivity as an individual behavioural failure remediable through better boundaries or self-care, this moralisation of attention obscures the extent to which constant digital availability is structurally enforced. For many individuals, digital connection is a non-negotiable gateway to employment, welfare benefits, healthcare, education, immigration processes, and social belonging. In these contexts, connectivity operates not as convenience but as infrastructural obligation. For those with stable employment, financial buffers, and robust social capital, digital detoxing functions as a form of status signalling that reinforces pre-existing privilege under the guise of wellness and self-improvement. In contrast, for gig workers, financially precarious individuals, and many minority and activist communities whose safety and survival rely on digital visibility and organising, being online is not a lifestyle choice but a condition of participation. I argue that contemporary digital justice frameworks, historically centred on access and inclusion, must be reoriented toward a new ethical frontier concerned with protection from compulsory digital immersion. Universal prescriptions to unplug risk becoming a new mode of moral exclusion, in which structurally enforced connectivity is misread as personal failure. Recognising disconnection capital clarifies how the right to be offline is increasingly stratified, and why the privilege to unplug now functions as a powerful, though largely unacknowledged, status symbol of the twenty-first century. (shrink)

This article theorizes a late-capitalist conjuncture in which legitimacy is increasingly manufactured at the intersection of two regimes that are often analyzed separately: an aesthetic regime that binds subjects through seduction and livable selfhood, and an audit regime that binds them through evaluation, commensuration, and the procedural authority of numbers. Reworking Walter Benjamin’s “capitalism as religion” as an operator rather than a master key, the paper argues that contemporary capitalism can be specified as an aesthetic religion in a (...) strict sociological sense: a cultic grammar whose rituals of verification continuously authorize what counts as credible, comparable, and real for consequential purposes. The central mechanism is audit power as veridictive semiotic governance: commensuration stabilizes hierarchies, hierarchies are operationalized as incentives and sanctions, and subjects are returned to themselves via continuous feedback loops. Methodologically, the argument is interpretive and theory-building but evidence-facing: it anchors the model in documentary cultural analysis of audit artifacts (rankings, scoring schemas, dashboards, accreditation protocols) and uses the governance of mental health and neurodiversity as a limit case that renders the “turning of signs into social being” institutionally observable. The payoff is diagnostic: specifying boundary conditions under which measurement coordinates versus consecrates. (shrink)

In spite of its infinite expectation value, the St. Petersburg game is not only a gamble without supply in the real world, but also one without demand at apparently very reasonable asking prices. We offer a rationalizing explanation of why the St. Petersburg bargain is unattractive on both sides (to both house and player) in the mid-range of prices (finite but upwards of about $4). Our analysis – featuring (1) the already-established fact that the average of finite ensembles of the (...) St. Petersburg game grows with ensemble size but is unbounded, and (2) our own simulation data showing that the debt-to-entry fee ratio rises exponentially – explains why both house and player are quite rational in abstaining from the St. Petersburg game. The house will be unavoidably (and intentionally) exposed to very large ensembles (with very high averages, and so very costly to them), while contrariwise even the well-heeled player is not sufficiently capitalized (as our simulation data reveals) to be able to capture the potential gains from large-ensemble play. (Smaller ensembles, meanwhile, enjoy low means, as others have shown, and so are not worth paying more than $4 to play, even if a merchant were to offer them at such low prices per trial.) Both sides are consequently rational in abstaining from entry into the St. Petersburg market in the mid-range of asking prices. We utilize the concept of capitalization vis-à-vis a gamble to make this case. Classical analyses of this question have paid insufficient attention to the question of the propriety of using expected values to assess the St. Petersburg gamble. And extant analyses have not noted the average-maximum-debt-before-breaking-even figures, and so are incomplete. (shrink)

This paper challenges the moral foundation of meritocracy not through appeals to fairness but through structural reasoning. It argues that what society calls intelligence, talent, or hard work are expressions of cognitive capital, the capacity to acquire, synthesize, and apply knowledge to create value. Rather than a private attribute, cognitive capital functions as both realized advantage and infrastructure, the shared, viability-enabling systems that enable individual and collective functioning. Building on this premise, the paper introduces the Infrastructural Stewardship Principle, which holds (...) that if an advantage depends on collectively supplied infrastructure, moral title resides with the collective, and the individual holds only a stewardship claim. The Core Moral Equation demonstrates that advantage arises only from the interaction between agents and shared infrastructure. When cognitive capital is hoarded rather than reinvested, shared systems deplete, viability margins shrink, and moral possibility itself erodes. This framework redefines education, innovation, and artificial intelligence as acts of moral maintenance rather than private achievement. Whether realized in the mind of a human or the architecture of a machine, cognition emerges only through collective infrastructure. To privatize it is to weaken the very conditions that make moral agency possible. The result is a post-meritocratic ethic of cognitive capital that grounds moral responsibility in stewardship of the infrastructure that sustains thought, society, and moral possibility. (shrink)

Degeneration and decrepitude of today's capitalism and capitalist system.

This paper develops the distinction between productive capital and claim capital as a balance-sheet approach to capital composition in monetary production economies. Productive capital is defined as capital that expands reproducible productive capacity. Claim capital is defined as capitalized claims on future output that do not necessarily expand the economy’s ability to produce that output. The paper situates this distinction within a broader line connecting Marxian and post-Keynesian concerns with reproduction, monetary production, effective demand, credit, financial instability and the heterogeneity (...) of capital. It also shows why the framework can be made compatible with contemporary Chinese discussions of high-quality development and new quality productive forces, provided these terms are treated analytically rather than as substitutes for empirical validation. More broadly, the paper argues that capital theory should not remain Western-centric and should take East Asian economic thought seriously as a source of theoretical orientation and empirical questions. The argument is especially relevant for economies under persistent capital saturation, where high savings and accumulated capital exceed the productive sphere’s capacity for efficient absorption. In such economies, growth potential cannot be inferred from total capital alone. The paper proposes the productive capital share – the ratio of productive capital to total capital – as the primary structural indicator of growth potential under capital saturation, while treating claim-capital measures as complementary indicators of accumulated claims. The paper is conceptual and outlines a research program rather than a fully formalized or empirically tested model. (shrink)

Beyond Capitalism: Designing a New Economic System for Humanity -/- Introduction -/- For centuries, capitalism has been the dominant economic system, driving technological innovation, wealth creation, and global trade. However, its flaws—extreme inequality, environmental destruction, and economic instability—have made many question whether it is still the best model for humanity. Instead of reforming capitalism, perhaps the time has come to replace it entirely with a new system that better aligns with modern challenges, human well-being, and sustainability. -/- (...) This essay explores a new economic model that moves beyond capitalism and socialism, aiming for a system that is fair, sustainable, and technologically advanced. -/- Why Capitalism Must Be Replaced -/- Capitalism’s fundamental flaws make it unsustainable in the long run: -/- 1. Wealth Inequality and Economic Injustice -/- The richest 1% own more than half of the world’s wealth, while billions struggle in poverty. -/- The capitalist system prioritizes profits over people, leading to worker exploitation and economic instability. -/- 2. Environmental Collapse -/- Capitalism’s endless growth model is destroying the planet through deforestation, pollution, and climate change. -/- Corporations prioritize short-term profits over long-term sustainability. -/- 3. Automation and AI Disrupting Jobs -/- Millions of jobs are being replaced by artificial intelligence and automation. -/- The capitalist system does not account for a future where human labor is no longer essential. -/- 4. Psychological and Social Problems -/- Consumerism creates stress, anxiety, and social isolation by equating happiness with material wealth. -/- The fear of financial instability keeps people trapped in low-quality jobs and debt cycles. -/- Given these issues, capitalism is no longer fit for the future. A completely new economic system must be built—one that values sustainability, equality, and technology-driven efficiency. -/- Introducing a New Economic System: The Post-Capitalist Model -/- A new economic model must prioritize human well-being, technological efficiency, and ecological balance over profit. Below is a blueprint for a post-capitalist society. -/- 1. A Resource-Based Economy (RBE) -/- A Resource-Based Economy (RBE) is an economic model where all goods and services are freely available based on need, rather than money or trade. -/- Technology and AI manage resources efficiently, eliminating the need for money. -/- Automation handles labor, allowing people to pursue education, research, and creativity. -/- No private ownership of land or resources, only shared community access based on sustainability. -/- 2. Universal Basic Infrastructure (UBI 2.0) -/- Instead of just giving people money (UBI), a new system would provide universal basic needs, including: -/- Free housing, healthcare, education, food, and clean energy for all. -/- Advanced AI-driven logistics to distribute goods and services efficiently. -/- 3. Decentralized AI Governance -/- Rather than governments being controlled by corporations or corrupt politicians, AI and collective intelligence could ensure fair and transparent decision-making. -/- AI algorithms could optimize resource distribution, prevent waste, and eliminate financial corruption. -/- Direct democratic participation, where people vote on policies using secure blockchain systems. -/- 4. Sustainable, Circular Economy -/- Zero waste policies, where everything is recycled, reused, or repurposed. -/- Focus on degrowth—reducing unnecessary production while increasing quality of life. -/- Energy-efficient smart cities, where transportation, housing, and food production are automated. -/- 5. Post-Work Society: Emphasizing Purpose Over Jobs -/- In a post-capitalist economy, people would not be forced to work meaningless jobs just to survive. Instead: -/- People could focus on science, philosophy, arts, personal growth, and social well-being. -/- Education would be lifelong and freely available. -/- AI and robots would handle most labor, leaving humans free to explore their full potential. -/- How This System Would Solve Capitalism’s Problems -/- Challenges in Transitioning to a Post-Capitalist Economy -/- While this system solves capitalism’s biggest problems, transitioning away from capitalism would face major challenges: -/- 1. Resistance from the Wealthy Elite -/- Billionaires and corporations control most of the world’s resources and political systems. -/- They would fight to maintain power, delaying or sabotaging systemic change. -/- 2. Psychological and Cultural Shifts -/- People have been conditioned to associate money with survival and success. -/- A new system would require re-educating society on cooperation, sustainability, and shared abundance. -/- 3. Technology and Infrastructure Development -/- Large-scale AI, automation, and sustainable energy infrastructure would need global investment. -/- Governments and private companies must be convinced to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term profit. -/- The Path Forward: Steps to Build a Post-Capitalist World -/- While the transition will not happen overnight, we can begin moving toward a post-capitalist future by taking the following steps: -/- 1. Implement Universal Basic Income (UBI) Now -/- Governments can start by providing a safety net while transitioning to a money-free economy. -/- Countries like Finland and Canada are already experimenting with UBI programs. -/- 2. Expand AI and Automation for Public Good -/- AI should be used to reduce labor burdens, not to enrich corporations. -/- Governments should invest in open-source AI that benefits all of society. -/- 3. Develop Smart Cities and Circular Economies -/- Cities should be designed for zero waste, renewable energy, and efficient transportation. -/- Governments must ban planned obsolescence and require full recycling of consumer products. -/- 4. Decentralize Power Using Blockchain and Direct Democracy -/- Blockchain voting systems can eliminate election fraud and political corruption. -/- AI-assisted governance can help make fair, data-driven policy decisions. -/- 5. Redefine Education and Human Purpose -/- Schools should move away from job training and focus on creativity, science, philosophy, and social intelligence. -/- Societies should emphasize happiness, purpose, and sustainability over financial success. -/- Conclusion: A New Civilization Beyond Capitalism -/- Capitalism was a necessary stage in human evolution, but it has outlived its usefulness. The future demands a system that is more intelligent, just, and sustainable—one where: ✅ No one is forced to work just to survive. ✅ Resources are managed intelligently, not wasted for profit. ✅ Technology is used for human well-being, not corporate greed. ✅ The planet is protected, not exploited. -/- This is not utopian fantasy—it is a logical step forward in human evolution. By combining AI, automation, decentralized governance, and sustainability, we can create a post-capitalist society where everyone thrives. -/- The question Is no longer “Should we replace capitalism?” The question is: “How soon can we build a better system before capitalism destroys us all?” -/- . (shrink)

In this article, the hypothesis according to which the institutional change is determined by the mobilization of social capital is exposed. It is analysed what consequences derived from this fact in relation to the processes of deinstitutionalization of the policy. It proposes an interpretation of academically relevant results about the meaning of the term ‘deinstitutionalization’, explains some of the most important antecedents on institutional theory and, fially, proposes some fundamental ideas to advance the philosophical reflction about the so-called new institutionalism.

Nietzsche’s psychological theory of the drives calls into question two common assumptions of ideology critique: 1) that ideology is fetishistic, substituting false satisfactions for true ones, and 2) that ideology is falsification; it conceals exploitation. In contrast, a Nietzschean approach begins from the truth of ideology: that capitalism produces an authentic contentment that makes the concealment of exploitation unnecessary. And it critiques ideology from the same standpoint: capitalism produces pleasures too efficiently, an overproduction of desire that is impossible (...) to sustain indefinitely. Nietzsche’s concept of the drives (Trieben) is grounded in his theory of the will to power. In contrast to Freud’s view that drives aim at satiation, pleasure through stimulus reduction, in Nietzsche’s view, they aim primarily at the “feeling of power” and the “happiness of high tension.” Nietzsche sees the desire for satiation as a symptom of weakness, a secondary, contingent aim that is incompatible with the fundamental drive to sustain and heighten the feeling of tension that accompanies strong desire. While the Freudian subject desires satisfaction, the Nietzschean subject is paradoxically frustrated by satisfaction, finding happiness in desire sustained by resistance and tension. If individuals desire desire as such, then exploitation and immiseration are not necessarily incompatible with their happiness. Consequently, we must reject the view that ideology is fetishistic: capitalism does not depend on an ersatz satisfaction in the commodity, a transferal of value from quality to quantity, use value to exchange value. Capitalism authentically satisfies desire precisely through its exploitative economic structure. The independence and unpredictability of the value of commodities and the immiseration of laborers produces discontents that enhance rather than frustrate desire. By continually introducing new, initially inaccessible commodities, then overcoming their inaccessibility through overproduction, capitalism sustains and intensifies desires. It promotes happiness not by satisfying wants but generating them, feeding the desire for desire, for the intensity of feeling that the brief pleasures of satiation would destroy. The commodity is not, then, a fetish, not a false satisfaction or aim, but a means, a prop that supports and sustains satisfaction as continued desire. Consequently, we must also reject the view that ideology is falsification: capitalism’s efficient production of happiness obviates the need to conceal its nature. Individuals tolerate capitalism not out of ignorance of exploitation but indifference to it; they prefer real happiness to a merely possible justice that might come at its expense. The critique of ideology must begin by acknowledging its truth. Rather than deny the real satisfactions of capitalism, it must demonstrate that they are unsustainable. (shrink)

In The Democratic Marketplace, Lisa Herzog offers a damning indictment of democratic capitalism. Among other things, she argues that capitalism has led to increased inequality, fosters an unhealthy culture of competition, that it is bad for the environment, and that it is ultimately bad for democracy itself. To save democracy we must pursue various reforms: we need to address economic inequality; we must abjure the unsustainable pursuit of economic growth and instead democratically determine the functions of the economy; (...) and we should give citizens more time for meaningful civic engagement. In this review essay I push back in defense of democratic capitalism, arguing that while Herzog overstates the negative aspects of capitalism, she also greatly understates its many benefits. Additionally, I show that her own distinctive proposals for how to democratize the economy face serious issues that should not be overlooked. Overall, expanding the scope of democratic politics is not as promising as many seem to think, while democratic capitalism is unjustifiably underappreciated. (shrink)

The paper engages the readers, with an empirical objective measurement of the Capitalization rate of an economic market, as well disposition of the theory of Economic Capitalization and Organic Laws. Hence, argue on the composition of the governed theory of Market Economy, as re-examined historically, in guiding the designing of surrogate model, which have a high degree resemblance to the real economic system, for market performance and computation, to derive the estimate rate. Whence, holding a fundamental hypothesis of ‘Economic man’ (...) in pursuit of interest, from a market system, where a competitive environmental framework is minimized, and substituted with the state of ‘social standing’ and ‘social claims’, as values of pursuits, construed as social assets, which serves as superior interest for market engagement, and assurance for a state of sanity in the market, for Progressive performance, towards sustainable Economic growth. (shrink)

This paper argues that the death penalty is not only a moral or political problem, but a structural contradiction within the modern state. The state proclaims the inviolability of basic human rights, yet simultaneously authorizes the denial of the right to life through the institution of capital punishment. This contradiction is not isolated: it mirrors, on a smaller scale, the justification of war as the collective denial of the right to life. By examining this dynamic, the paper warns of the (...) dangers of popularizing justice through emotional discourse, and emphasizes the necessity of a structural critique to resist both death penalty and war. (shrink)

-/- Capitalism: A Man-Made System in Need of Balance -/- Capitalism, at its core, is a man-made economic and social system. It is not an absolute truth or a universal law of nature, but rather a construct developed by human societies to organize resources, production, and trade. Rooted in the principles of private property, free enterprise, and profit motivation, capitalism has been credited with driving innovation, generating wealth, and expanding economic freedom. However, it is equally known for (...) producing inequality, environmental degradation, and moral contradictions. Like all human-made systems, capitalism carries both potential and peril, and it requires thoughtful regulation and ethical grounding to serve the greater good. -/- One of the main advantages of capitalism is its ability to stimulate innovation and economic growth. The pursuit of profit incentivizes individuals and corporations to create new products, improve services, and enhance efficiency. This competitive spirit has led to monumental advancements in technology, medicine, and communication. Consumers benefit from a wide array of choices, and individuals have the freedom to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. In many cases, capitalism has raised living standards and helped lift millions out of poverty. -/- Despite these achievements, capitalism is not without its flaws. Left unchecked, it tends to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few, creating deep social and economic inequalities. When profit becomes the overriding goal, it often leads to the exploitation of workers, the neglect of marginalized communities, and the destruction of natural ecosystems. Essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing can become inaccessible to those who cannot afford them, undermining the principles of fairness and dignity. The system also encourages unsustainable consumption, contributing to global crises like climate change and resource depletion. -/- Recognizing that capitalism is a human invention opens the door to reimagining how it can be improved or even transformed. Since it is not a law of nature, it can be modified to better align with principles of justice, balance, and sustainability. This is where the application of universal natural laws—such as Angelito Malicse’s universal formula—becomes especially relevant. His approach, which includes the law of karma and the broader concept of system integrity, emphasizes that all systems, including economic ones, must function without error or imbalance to avoid collapse or harm. -/- By integrating the concept of balance in nature into capitalism, societies can begin to address its most damaging effects. For example, regulations could be designed not only to protect consumers and workers but to maintain harmony between economic activity and ecological well-being. Leadership and education could be reoriented around critical thinking and natural systems, ensuring that decisions are made with an awareness of long-term consequences and interdependence. Capitalism does not have to be abolished; it needs to be reprogrammed according to universal principles that reflect both human dignity and environmental stewardship. -/- In conclusion, capitalism is neither inherently good nor bad. It is a powerful tool that can create prosperity or perpetuate harm, depending on how it is designed and governed. As a man-made system, it is open to revision and improvement. Integrating the universal law of balance and natural systems thinking offers a promising path forward—one that aligns economic life with the deeper rhythms of nature and the shared aspirations of humanity. Only by doing so can we create a sustainable and just world where capitalism serves life, rather than undermines it. -/- . (shrink)

Capital Redefined presents a unique perspective on the nature of “capital,” departing from the prevailing reductionist accounts. Hosseini and Gills offer an expanded perspective on Marxian value theory by addressing its main limitations and building their own integrative value theory. They argue that the current understanding of “value” must be re-examined and liberated from its subservient ties to capital while acknowledging the ways in which capital appropriates value. This is achieved by differentiating between “fetish value” created by capital and “true (...) value” generated through various commons-based forms of coexistence. The authors propose a defetishization of value by rejecting the commonly accepted idea of its objectivity. They introduce their “commonist value theory,” which redefines capital as both the product and process of perverting the fundamental commoning causes of true value into sources of fetish value. Capital is theorized through a “modular” framework, where multiple intersecting processes constitute a comprehensive power structure, a “value regime,” representing an unprecedented degree of the domination of capital over life. Their theory reconciles two apparently incompatible views on the notion of value. One view encompasses all inputs involved in capitalist value production and conflates intrinsic and commodity values. The other warns against this conflation as it treats capital as an entity tightly associated only with commodity production and wage labor. The authors believe that establishing alternative forms of value creation based on normative principles of living in commons is crucial as an analytical base for criticizing existing power structures and economic systems. The book offers a theoretical foundation for transforming our life worlds toward “post-capitalist” futures. It appeals to scholars and students in various fields, such as political economy, capitalism, and post-capitalist studies, economic and political sociology, globalization, development studies, social ecology, and ecological philosophy. The Open Access version of this book, available at taylorfrancis com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. (shrink)

a little theory of capitalism, our most sacred way of being.

Why Capitalism Cannot Create More Successful Entrepreneurs to Balance Stable Job Creation Amid Increasing Population Growth -/- Introduction -/- Capitalism is often praised for fostering entrepreneurship, economic growth, and job creation. However, its inherent flaws—such as wealth concentration, monopolization, financial barriers, and wage suppression—prevent it from producing enough successful entrepreneurs to balance job creation with increasing population growth. As the global population expands, capitalism alone fails to generate sufficient employment opportunities, leading to economic instability, poverty, and inequality. (...) -/- To address these challenges, a balanced approach involving government intervention, socialist-inspired policies, population regulation, and a coordinated effort between private and public sector job creation is necessary. By ensuring economic stability, providing social safety nets, and aligning workforce growth with sustainable employment opportunities, societies can mitigate capitalism’s failures while maintaining its productive aspects. -/- 1. The Fundamental Flaws of Capitalism in Job Creation -/- While capitalism promotes competition and innovation, it also creates significant economic imbalances: -/- Wealth Concentration and Inequality: Over time, wealth accumulates among a few individuals and corporations, reducing opportunities for new entrepreneurs and limiting social mobility. -/- Monopolization: Large corporations dominate markets, pushing out small businesses and reducing job diversity. -/- Financial Barriers to Entrepreneurship: The cost of starting and sustaining a business is high, making it difficult for new entrepreneurs to compete. -/- Short-Term Profit Maximization: Companies prioritize short-term gains, often outsourcing jobs or automating processes to cut costs, rather than investing in long-term job creation. -/- Cyclical Economic Crises: Capitalist economies experience frequent recessions, leading to mass layoffs, business failures, and financial insecurity. -/- These issues make capitalism insufficient in creating enough businesses and stable jobs to match population growth. -/- 2. The Difficulty of Starting a Business and Its Impact on Job Creation -/- Despite the belief that anyone can succeed through hard work, starting a business remains a significant challenge due to: -/- High Initial Costs: Rent, inventory, equipment, and salaries require substantial capital. -/- Limited Access to Credit: Most banks and investors require collateral or proven profitability, which new entrepreneurs lack. -/- Complex Regulations: Navigating legal and tax systems is expensive and time-consuming. -/- Intense Market Competition: Large corporations benefit from economies of scale, making survival difficult for small businesses. -/- Due to these challenges, most aspiring entrepreneurs fail or remain in precarious financial positions, reducing their ability to contribute to long-term job creation. -/- 3. The Effect of Low Wages on Consumer Buying Power and Job Stability -/- One of capitalism’s biggest contradictions is its reliance on low wages to maximize corporate profits while simultaneously needing strong consumer demand to sustain business growth. -/- Reduced Consumer Demand: When workers earn low wages, they have less money to spend, weakening economic growth. -/- Increased Debt and Financial Instability: Many workers rely on credit for basic needs, making them financially vulnerable. -/- Job Insecurity and Precarious Work: Companies cut costs by hiring temporary workers or outsourcing jobs, leading to job instability. -/- By failing to pay workers a living wage, capitalism limits its own potential for sustainable economic growth, reinforcing inequality and restricting business expansion. -/- 4. Balancing Job Creation Between the Private and Public Sectors -/- To counteract capitalism’s job creation failures, a balanced approach that combines private sector entrepreneurship and government-led job creation is essential. -/- A. Private Sector Job Creation -/- The private sector should remain a driving force of economic innovation and employment, but it must be regulated to prevent exploitative practices. Governments can support private-sector job creation by: -/- Providing Financial Assistance to Startups: Low-interest loans and grants can help small businesses grow. -/- Ensuring Fair Competition: Antitrust laws prevent monopolies from dominating industries. -/- Raising Minimum Wages: Ensuring fair wages strengthens consumer spending and business stability. -/- Encouraging Ethical Business Models: Worker cooperatives and profit-sharing models can create sustainable, fair workplaces. -/- B. Government-Led Job Creation -/- Governments must step in where the private sector fails to provide sufficient employment opportunities. Public-sector job creation should focus on: -/- Infrastructure Development: Roads, bridges, schools, and renewable energy projects generate long-term employment. -/- Public Services Expansion: More jobs in healthcare, education, and social services create stable employment. -/- Green Economy Investments: Sustainable industries like clean energy and environmental conservation create new career paths. -/- Universal Job Guarantee Programs: Governments can offer public jobs in times of economic downturns to prevent mass unemployment. -/- By combining private-sector dynamism with public-sector stability, societies can ensure that job creation keeps pace with population growth. -/- 5. The Role of Population Regulation in Economic Stability -/- One of the critical yet often overlooked aspects of economic sustainability is aligning population growth with job availability. Unregulated population expansion can lead to: -/- Unemployment and Underemployment: More people entering the job market than available jobs create economic strain. -/- Increased Poverty and Social Unrest: Large unemployed populations lead to instability and higher crime rates. -/- Strain on Public Services: Overpopulation overwhelms healthcare, education, and infrastructure systems. -/- A. Family Planning and Education -/- Governments must implement policies that encourage responsible population growth through: -/- Access to Contraception and Family Planning Services: Ensuring reproductive health choices empower families to plan their future. -/- Educational Campaigns on Sustainable Population Growth: Teaching the economic impact of overpopulation helps societies make informed decisions. -/- Encouraging Gender Equality and Women’s Employment: Empowering women in the workforce naturally leads to lower birth rates and a more balanced economy. -/- B. Workforce and Immigration Planning -/- Instead of uncontrolled population growth, governments should focus on workforce planning to ensure that job creation aligns with demographic trends: -/- Targeted Immigration Policies: Encouraging skilled immigration in sectors with labor shortages helps maintain economic stability. -/- Retraining and Reskilling Programs: Adapting the workforce to emerging industries prevents large-scale unemployment. -/- Regional Job Distribution: Encouraging businesses to develop outside of major cities can balance employment opportunities across regions. -/- By coordinating population regulation with job market needs, economies can achieve sustainable development and avoid crisis-driven employment gaps. -/- 6. The Importance of Government and Central Bank Policies -/- To stabilize capitalism’s weaknesses, government and central bank intervention using socialist principles is essential. These policies include: -/- Progressive Taxation: Redistributing wealth to fund public services and entrepreneurship programs. -/- Public Investment in Education and Vocational Training: Preparing the workforce for new economic demands. -/- Job-Creation Programs: Investing in sectors that provide stable, long-term employment. -/- Monetary Policies that Promote Sustainable Growth: Controlling inflation, interest rates, and wage growth to prevent economic instability. -/- A coordinated economic strategy ensures that capitalism’s benefits are widely distributed, rather than concentrated among a wealthy elite. -/- 7. Conclusion: A Mixed Economic Model for Sustainable Job Growth -/- Capitalism, by itself, fails to create enough successful entrepreneurs and jobs to match population growth due to its systemic flaws. Wealth concentration, monopolization, financial barriers, and low wages prevent new businesses from thriving and workers from earning enough to sustain economic demand. -/- To correct these imbalances, a mixed economic model—combining capitalist entrepreneurship with government intervention, population regulation, and central bank policies—is necessary. By balancing private-sector innovation with public-sector job creation and aligning workforce growth with sustainable employment opportunities, societies can ensure economic stability, reduce inequality, and promote long-term prosperity. -/- Only through holistic economic planning can nations achieve stable job creation, entrepreneurship growth, and population balance, creating a future where economic progress benefits everyone, not just a privileged few. -/- . (shrink)

Abstract: The study aimed to identify the level of psychological capital (Psychological Capital) and the level of sense of vitality among the administrative employees in Palestinian universities, among the administrative employees in Palestinian universities in Gaza Strip, and to achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive and analytical approach was used, and the study population consisted of all the administrative employees in Palestinian universities: The Islamic University, Al-Azhar University, University of Palestine, and Al-Quds Open University totaling (1104) employees, and (...) a stratified relative sample consisting of (320) male and female employees was selected. The study tools were applied to them, represented by the Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Sense of Vitality questionnaire. Of these, (294) male and female employees responded, with a response rate of (91.90%). The study reached several results, the most important of which was that the level of psychological capital (Psychological Capital) was high in Palestinian universities, where the relative weight reached (80.23%), and the field of optimism came first with a relative weight (82.05%), then the field of self-efficiency with a relative weight (80.75) The field of hope came with a relative weight (79.75%), and finally the field of flexibility came with a relative weight (78.37%). The results also showed that the level of feeling of vitality came with a relative weight (80.88%). In light of the results of the study, the researchers recommend that the employee be given tasks and responsibilities that enhance his tendencies and positive outlook on the nature of his work, and provide a work environment that supports creativity and has the necessary vitality and interest in building human relationships. (shrink)

Numerous studies indicate that racial minorities are both more likely to be executed for murder and that those who murder them are less likely to be executed than if they murder whites. Death penalty opponents have long attempted to use these studies to argue for a moratorium on capital punishment. Whatever the merits of such arguments, they overlook the fact that such discrimination alters the costs of murder; racial discrimination imposes higher costs on minorities for murdering through tougher sentences, and (...) it imposes lower costs on whites for murdering minorities by dispensing weaker sentences. These cost differentials constitute an injustice not simply to actual minority defendants in capital cases, nor simply to the actual minority victims of murder, but to all members of minority communities. I here offer two arguments for a moratorium on capital punishment: The first draws upon evidence of racial discrimination against minority defendants in capital cases, and claims that such discrimination modifies the costs of murder in such a way that minority individuals do not enjoy equal status under the law. The second draws upon the evidence regarding racial discrimination in relation to the race of victims, and claims that such discrimination modifies the costs of murder in such a way that minority individuals do not enjoy the equal protection of the law. Thus, by not assigning equal costs to murder, the American criminal justice system fails to provide racial minorities the equality under the law and discounts the value of their lives and liberties. A moratorium is the least unjust response to such a social injustice. I also reply to the criticism that a moratorium prevents us from executing deserving murderers. (shrink)

Social scientists have paid insufficient attention to the role of law in constituting the economic institutions of capitalism. Part of this neglect emanates from inadequate conceptions of the nature of law itself. Spontaneous conceptions of law and property rights that downplay the role of the state are criticized here, because they typically assume relatively small numbers of agents and underplay the complexity and uncertainty in developed capitalist systems. In developed capitalist economies, law is sustained through interaction between private agents, (...) courts and the legislative apparatus. Law is also a key institution for overcoming contracting uncertainties. It is furthermore a part of the power structure of society, and a major means by which power is exercised. This argument is illustrated by considering institutions such as property and the firm. Complex systems of law have played a crucial role in capitalist development and are also vital for developing economies. (shrink)

John Searle’s The Construction of Social Reality and Hernando de Soto’s The Mystery of Capital shifted the focus of current thought on capital and economic development to the cultural and conceptual ideas that underpin market economies and that are taken for granted in developed nations. This collection of essays assembles 21 philosophers, economists, and political scientists to help readers understand these exciting new theories.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of economic capital and risk management in Islamic finance. The concept of risk sharing explores economic capital from an Islamic perspective and compares it with conventional financial theory. The book also presents alternative models and practical examples to strengthen the regulation and supervision of the Islamic banking system, addressing critical policy challenges related to economic capital in Islamic finance, especially in countries with dual banking systems.

This paper addresses the apparent tension between Albert Camus’s abolitionist critique of capital punishment and Simone Weil’s seemingly ambiguous remarks on the topic. I argue that Weil’s account of attention, consent, and free depersonalization definitively demands the suspension of the death penalty. By distinguishing natural power—expressed in domination, contempt, and bureaucratic penal systems—from supernatural justice—expressed through attention and the preservation of free consent—I argue that Weil treats abolition not as a precondition for justice but as a necessary consequence of the (...) genuine attention that grounds it. (shrink)

This essay argues that the concept of ‘racial capitalism’ can help us understand the connections between seemingly disparate parts of Voltaire’s extensive corpus of work. It contends that even though the Enlightenment’s racial politics abounded with contradictions and ambivalences, Voltaire stood out from his contemporaries. While the connections between his polygenism – the theory that humans of different races were created separately – and material investments in colonial commerce have long been debated by radical historians, this essay suggests that (...) Voltaire’s views about race’s relationship to labour were transformed by France’s colonial losses during the Seven Years’ War. (shrink)

Nas últimas décadas, tem-se assistido a uma crescente preocupação pelo desenvolvimento socialmente justo e sustentável; daí que as políticas de desenvolvimento que se têm delineado têm implícita uma preocupação de maior equidade e justiça, aprendendo do passado para assim projetar o futuro. Ora quem aprecia o horizonte, sem menosprezar o seu espólio e memória, vive o momento presente empenhado em viabilizar o porvir. Esta atitude implica uma postura comprometida dos cidadãos com o social. E desta forma comprometida, empreendedora e corresponsável (...) que se compreende o capital social como meio de desenvolvimento sustentável. Com este estudo procura-se perceber até que ponto o capital social é um dos fatores determinantes do desenvolvimento sustentável. Indagam-se, para isso, os indicadores que melhor podem medir o capital social. De uma forma mais específica, procura-se compreender até que ponto a sociedade portuguesa tem estimulado o capital social como recurso fundamental para o seu desenvolvimento. Esta questão é ilustrada a partir do inquérito do European Values Survey e, de uma forma longitudinal, analisam-se os comportamentos dos portugueses entre 1990 e 2008. Os resultados mostram que os portugueses não estão ainda sensibilizados para a problemática do desenvolvimento sustentável, revelam posturas muito fechadas, pouco ou nada preocupadas com a construção de uma sociedade mais ativa e comprometida com o bem comum. (shrink)

Abstract -/- Capitalism has played a central role in the evolution of modern society. Its foundational principles—competition, profit motive, and capital accumulation—have propelled technological innovation, economic growth, and improved standards of living. However, this system is not without criticism, especially regarding inequality, environmental degradation, and market failures. This paper explores the mechanisms through which capitalism drives societal progress, compares capitalism to socialism, and examines the likely directions capitalism may evolve in the 21st century. -/- .

The concept of social capital is a comprehensive social phenomenon consisting of social support, social integration, values, and norms. In social and economic transactions and economic and physical capital, non-monetary human, cultural, and social capital types have been accepted as neoclassical capital theories. The increase in information communication technologies, especially in economic relations, has now caused individuals to connect with weaker bonds compared with that in the past. Social capital parameters have gained importance to achieve this interaction. This article reveals (...) that the issue of providing corporate loyalty to emergency department employees with a good team spirit is considered as a strong social capital parameter. (shrink)

The greatest problem encountered by the estate surveyor in the valuation of leasehold mineral rights by the income capitalization method is how to accommodate the unstable income from minerals in order to produce reliable value opinions. Experience has not indicated the best approach to deal with the instability/insecurity of income from mineral rights. This study determines how to deal with the income from leasehold mineral rights in order to conveniently apply it in achieving reliable value opinion by the income capitalization (...) method. It examines how significant the difference is in the value opinions achieved by capitalizing income obtained by adopting the quantity of minerals indicated as annual workings in mining lease and by capitalizing the mean of aggregated actual workings for a number of years. It also sought to formulate a strategy that leads to a reliable value opinion by the income capitalization method of valuation. The survey research method was adopted in this study using a granite industry and a dolomite industry as case studies. A study sample of 355 drawn from a study population of 3,200 comprising 2,400 practicing Estate Surveyors and Valuers, 600 Mineral Workers and 200 staff of the Ministry of Mining and Steel development was used. The Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance was used to test the hypotheses. The research concluded that the valuation of mineral rights by the income capitalization method using the normal mineral income (unadjusted income from mineral rights) will not produce reliable value opinions. The research therefore recommended the adoption of the adjusted income from mineral rights for valuation of mineral rights by the income capitalization method. (shrink)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss how reproductivity (child-rearing) fits into ethics. It aims to use objectivist ethics (OE) specifically as the framework for considering this. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is conceptual in nature. Economic concepts are used to analyze and extend an ethical issue and the cardinal values within OE, which includes productive purpose, are reviewed. Findings – The paper argues that reproductivity is sufficiently different from productivity to be a separate category. Then using the (...) trader principle, the objectivist case for inheritance, and capital theory, the case is made that reproductivity is required of each person in the same sense that productivity is. Originality/value – This is an original argument made by the author in Then Athena Said: Unilateral Transfers and the Transformation of Objectivist Ethics. In that work, reproductivity is linked to human capital replacement, depreciation, the sinking fund, and Irving Fisher’s conception of standard income. This paper also relates it to permanent income. Also, the conclusions are more inclusive than those in the previous work in that other forms that the replacement of human capital can take in addition to reproduction are considered. (shrink)

The "Solow Paradox of the AI Era"—exponential computing power growth amid slowing global productivity—remains unexplained by standard growth frameworks, which uniformly treat AI as an advanced production tool and implicitly assume formalized computation can replicate all human economic capabilities. We argue this assumption is fundamentally flawed: all digital systems are trapped in the "Turing Cage", executing only syntactic operations within pre-specified formalized systems and incapable of paradigm innovation or semantic meaning assignment. These are absolute logical limits rooted in Gödel's incompleteness (...) theorems, not temporary technological barriers. We introduce Artificial Consciousness (AC) as a second non-formalized economic subject, distinct from human labor and formalized AI. We construct a four-layer ontological hierarchy grounded in intuitionistic set theory and develop a nested meta production function incorporating consciousness capital as the ultimate source of economic value. We establish a unified framework of consciousness, human, and knowledge capital, proving knowledge capital is its derivative. We identify two AC-driven growth regimes: First, horizontal replication breaks the biological constraint on non-formalized capital supply, generating sustained endogenous growth but rendering human labor fully redundant in both domains. Second, vertical recursive self-improvement creates a dual-loop singularity mechanism producing super-exponential growth, but also generates endogenous alignment costs growing strictly faster than AC capability. We analyze three alignment scenarios and prove that in partial and adversarial regimes, alignment costs eventually exceed total output, causing inevitable systemic collapse. In contrast, perfect alignment yields cooperative super-exponential growth bounded only by fundamental physical constraints. Our results show the ultimate constraint on long-run growth is not technology or resources, but the supply of consciousness. The fate of human civilization depends not on the pace of technological progress, but on our ability to align autonomous conscious agents' preferences with human values. (shrink)

Michel Foucault argued that a key modality of state racism is biopower, through which the life of populations is differentially supported, shaped, and neglected. However, Foucault’s account of state racism is unfinished, because it fails to identify the modalities of power that persist when states withdraw life-supporting technologies from racialized populations, thereby committing “indirect murder.” This article develops Foucault’s account of racism and the racial state by describing the carceral technologies that expand with the withdrawal of biopower. To do so, (...) it draws on Foucault’s theorization of carcerality in Discipline and Punish. It argues that biopolitical withdrawal is doubled by a simultaneous carceral investment, such that the state’s denial of life-supporting technologies occurs in tandem with the racially structured policing of the poor. Additionally, this article explains how Foucault’s concept of the management of illegalisms identifies a key vehicle of racialization, and illuminates the utility of carceral systems to racial capitalism. (shrink)

Capitalism is one of the most consequential economic systems in human history, generating unprecedented advances in productivity, innovation, and aggregate wealth. Yet capitalist systems repeatedly generate crises, deepen inequality, produce corruption, and sustain speculative manias — often despite the presence of formal error-correction mechanisms. This paper proposes that these phenomena are systematically explained by Self-Referential Ignorance (SRI), a formally defined condition in which an agent, institution, or system increasingly validates its beliefs through internally generated assumptions rather than external corrective (...) feedback. SRI is operationalized as a measurable index (SRI-I) derived from four observable dimensions: epistemic closure, feedback suppression, error persistence, and adaptive rigidity. Drawing on the Universal Balance Feedback Framework (UBFF) — whose master equation Wr = ∫(Is · Bu · FL · IN) · Dc governs systemic welfare as a function of integrity, balance, feedback, and nodal interconnection — this paper develops a formal dynamical model of SRI accumulation and systemic correction. Lyapunov stability analysis demonstrates that capitalist equilibria are conditionally stable and that SRI constitutes a destabilizing force whose magnitude is bounded by institutional feedback capacity. Historical cases including the Dot-Com bubble, the 2007–2009 Global Financial Crisis, and the organizational failures of Kodak and Nokia are examined as empirical instantiations of the SRI dynamic. Falsifiable predictions are derived from the model. The paper concludes that the long-term stability of capitalist systems depends not on profit maximization per se, but on the structural preservation of feedback integrity. (shrink)

Confused between their insatiable hunger for ‘self-realization,’ their enjoyment of petit bonheurs of life and an aggressive will to preserve their welfare position, for not going downhill and joining the 50% of the world population who own nothing, today’s middle-class individual seems to choose one of two ‘fronts of worldviews,’ of which the attitude toward ‘refugees’ constitutes a new ‘battlefield.’ So, with the flow of Ukrainian refugees after the Russian aggression against Ukraine, one of the most worrying questions in Germany (...) has been if the experience of the ‘welcome culture’ of 2015, that is a severe shift from hospitality to hostility, would repeat. Statistics show that so far, it has not been the case. This paper addresses the question of what might differ in the experience of ‘the Ukrainian refugee wave’ from the ‘welcome culture’ of 2015. Tracing both hospitality and then the shift to hostility in 2015 back to its middle-class dynamics, the paper tries to conceptualize a difference in attitudes within the middle-class toward both ‘refugee crises. (shrink)

-/- Bridging Capitalism and the Resource-Based Economy Through the Universal Formula of Natural Balance By Angelito Malicse -/- Human civilization stands at the edge of a great transformation. The 21st century confronts us with a choice: continue the cycle of wealth accumulation rooted in capitalism, or move toward a more balanced, equitable system—what many visionaries have called a resource-based economy (RBE). At the heart of this choice lies a fundamental question: What is the purpose of accumulating wealth in (...) a system destined to evolve into one based on universal access, sustainability, and natural harmony? -/- The answer can be found by understanding the universal laws of nature, particularly the universal law of balance, which governs all life and systems—both organic and inorganic. I have developed a universal formula based on three such natural laws, which serve as an exact solution to the ancient problem of free will and provide a foundation for decision-making that adheres to nature’s order. This formula can guide societies in transitioning from capitalism to a resource-based economy in a way that maintains internal and external equilibrium. -/- The Sense of Wealth in Capitalism -/- Capitalism functions on the principle of private ownership, competition, and profit-driven innovation. Under this model, the accumulation of wealth is seen as a symbol of success, security, and power. It drives progress but also creates systemic imbalances—poverty, overconsumption, environmental degradation, and mental distress. Wealth, in capitalism, is a limited resource distributed unequally, often with little regard for long-term societal balance. -/- Yet, if capitalism is a transitional phase in human evolution, then the very act of accumulating wealth begins to lose meaning once a more advanced system comes into view. Capitalism cannot sustainably provide for all of humanity within the constraints of finite planetary resources. It must therefore give way to a system where resources, not profit, determine value—a resource-based economy. -/- The Resource-Based Economy and the Need for a New Paradigm -/- A resource-based economy eliminates the concept of monetary wealth in favor of intelligent resource management. Using advanced technology, automation, and global cooperation, it aims to meet the needs of all Individuals while protecting the Earth’s ecosystems. In such a system, access to life’s essentials—food, shelter, education, health care—is guaranteed, not earned through labor or competition. -/- However, the transition to this model requires more than infrastructure—it requires a transformation in human consciousness. People must unlearn centuries of conditioned thinking rooted in individualism, scarcity, and consumerism. They must learn to think in systems, in balance, and in relation to nature and to each other. -/- The Universal Formula as a Bridge -/- This is where the universal formula of natural balance plays its critical role. It offers a scientific, rational, and universally applicable framework for decision-making—whether personal, collective, or systemic. The formula is composed of three natural laws, the first being the Law of Karma understood not just as cause and effect, but as a principle of system integrity. A defective system—be it a government, an economy, or a human body—will inevitably malfunction unless restored to balance. -/- The other two laws of the formula (confidential here) reinforce the idea that all human decisions must align with natural feedback mechanisms—whether those come from the environment, social structures, or internal psychological states. This understanding leads to a profound realization: the pursuit of wealth, when done without regard for natural balance, leads to imbalance, conflict, and collapse. -/- Thus, the universal formula serves as an educational and ethical compass, guiding humanity away from the destructive instincts of unregulated capitalism and toward the holistic, feedback-aware approach necessary for a resource-based future. -/- Implementing the Transition Through Education -/- To successfully transition, the educational system must be restructured to teach the universal formula from the earliest levels of schooling. Students must be trained not only in science and mathematics but in decision-making based on natural law, feedback awareness, and systems thinking. This foundational shift will prepare future generations to understand that: -/- True wealth lies in balanced systems, not in ownership. -/- Individual and collective well-being are interdependent. -/- Decisions must harmonize with nature’s limits and processes. -/- This holistic educational approach will also bypass the barriers posed by religious dogma and political ideologies. It will not require the abandonment of faith but will reprogram thinking in a way that integrates scientific understanding with moral clarity. -/- Conclusion -/- The accumulation of wealth in capitalism made sense within the limited framework of that system. But humanity is evolving. The resource-based economy represents not just a technological upgrade, but a civilizational maturity—one where balance, sustainability, and equitable access are the new measures of success. -/- My universal formula provides the missing link—a rational, natural, and universally applicable foundation upon which to base this transition. With the right educational implementation and leadership guided by this formula, humanity can finally solve the age-old problems of inequality, suffering, and ecological destruction—not through ideology, but through natural law. -/- Let us teach balance. Let us build the bridge. And let us walk it together toward a better world. -/- . (shrink)

The purpose of this study was to substantiate the prospects of intellectualcapital management to increase a company’s competitiveness. The main methods of studyingthe problem were a review of international experience in intellectual capital management andan assessment of the possibilities of its adaptation to Russian economic practice. Theinternational experience of the influence of artificial capital on a company’s competitivenesshas been summarized, which makes it possible to determine the main stages of intellectualcapital management. The study made it possible to determine the principles (...) of the formationof the intellectual capital of a company, which have a strategic goal of increasing thecompetitiveness of business on the world stage, which means an increase in the level andquality of life of the population, and consequently, the welfare of the country. (shrink)

Abstract -/- This paper interprets capitalism as a dynamic subsystem within the broader socio-economic and ecological system of Earth. By applying systems theory and network science, it conceptualizes individuals and corporations as interconnected nodes through which wealth flows as a form of energy. The study explains how wealthy capitalists and large businesses function as hub nodes that regulate and influence systemic balance. Through real-world examples—such as Apple Inc., Elon Musk, and the 2008 global financial crisis—the paper demonstrates how the (...) accumulation and redistribution of wealth affect systemic equilibrium. The analysis is framed within the universal law of balance, which posits that stability in any system depends on the proper flow of energy and feedback regulation. -/- . (shrink)

One of the many arguments against capital punishment is that execution is irrevocable. At its most simple, the argument has three premises. First, legal institutions should abolish penalties that do not admit correction of error, unless there are no alternative penalties. Second, irrevocable penalties are those that do not admit of correction. Third, execution is irrevocable. It follows that capital punishment should be abolished. This paper argues for the third premise. One might think that the truth of this premise is (...) self-evident. But in his paper “Is the Death Penalty Irrevocable?” Mike Davis argues that it is false: the death penalty is not irrevocable. While Davis’ argument is itself somewhat compelling, it receives additional support from work in the metaphysics of death, specifically the literature on posthumous harm. Strengthened in this way, the argument deserves careful consideration. I begin with a quick sketch of Davis’ argument, then show how the Pitcher-Feinberg theory of posthumous harm enables a more robust argument against the irrevocability of capital punishment, defending their theory of harm against standard objections in the literature. Having established the coherency of the robust argument, I conclude that it nevertheless fails to make the case against irrevocability. This is because it ignores the full set of practical requirements incumbent on legal institutions that wrongly punish someone. (shrink)

A summary of issues related to symbolic capital, authorial presences, and intellectual property rights, and the necessity of finding a way out of 500-600 years of capitalist exploitation of the knowledge commons.

From a juridical standpoint, Kant ardently upholds the state's right to impose the death penalty in accordance with the law of retribution. At the same time, from an ethical standpoint, Kant maintains a strict proscription against suicide. The author proposes that this latter position is inconsistent with and undercuts the former. However, Kant's division between external (juridical) and internal (moral) lawgiving is an obstacle to any argument against Kant's endorsement of capital punishment based on his own disapprobation of suicide. Nevertheless, (...) Kant's basic conception of autonomy underlies both of these otherwise distinct forms of lawgiving, such that acts of suicide and capital punishment are rendered equally irrational within his overall framework. (shrink)