Carrol Cox wrote: > Since capitalism is a set of social relations, not an agent, it is > incoherent to ask whether or not it has either failed or succeeded.
Some old guy from the 19th century with an unruly beard and doubtful friends suggested that (from the point of view of socialists or communists), capitalism had a purpose, i.e., setting the stage for workers to create socialism and/or communism. >From the point of view of the capitalists (then and now), the system has a purpose, i.e. providing them with abundant income, wealth, and power. Non-capitalists might see capitalism as having a purpose, too, though it likely would differ from that of the capitalists. Economists often see its purpose as being to raise popular living standards. If capitalism can have a purpose (from someone's point of view), then it can fail. -- Jim Devine / "when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's pedantic." (apologies to Jack Brooks & Harry Warren.) _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
