Reconciling the Prometheus Spirit with Ecological Critique

In this inaugural episode of our new series on ecosocialism, we discuss some writings by ecological Marxist thinker John Bellamy Foster, whose main contribution to contemporary discourse is his elaboration of the theory of metabolic rift. We talk about how this concept is meant to explain why the capitalist mode of production is environmentally unsustainable in principle, but also dig into why this approach is not totally satisfying. By the end of the discussion we’re bumming ourselves out about the unfolding climate crisis and the looming threat of ecofascism. Can’t promise that the rest of the series won’t also be a real downer! Uh, sorry about that!!

leftofphilosophy.com | @leftofphil

References:

John Bellamy Foster, “Marx’s Theory of Metabolic Rift: Classical Foundations for Environmental Sociology,” American Journal of Sociology 105.2 (1999): 366-405

John Bellamy Foster and Brett Clark, “Marx’s Ecology in the 21st Century,” World Review of Political Economy, 1.1 (2010): 142-156

Music:

Vintage Memories by Schematist | schematist.bandcamp.com