Philosophy professor Adrian Johnston discusses themes of infinite greed and capital's selfishness in his book 'Infinite Greed'. The podcast explores Lacan's engagement with Marx and Freud, challenges common perceptions of selfishness in capitalist societies, and delves into the impact of mathemization on modern science and capitalism. Additionally, the discussion covers abstract counting, symbolism, and upcoming projects in academic writing.
Aggression in post-capitalist society can be sublimated and managed in socialist or communist arrangements.
Human behavior is influenced by a complex interplay of motivations beyond aggression, including the need for love and protection.
The concept of helplessness in understanding human vulnerability and aggression aligns with Marxist analyses of psychological underpinnings.
Deep dives
Understanding the Concept of Aggression According to Freud
Freud raises the question of what happens to aggression in a post-capitalist society, as he posits aggression as a fundamental, libidinal force that threatens social order. However, Freud acknowledges that aggression is a sublimated version of an inwardly directed self-destructive tendency, which then manifests as outward hostility. This implies that aggression is sublimatable and can be handled in socialist or communist arrangements.
Exploring the Relationship Between Eros and Thanatos in Freud's Work
Freud oscillates between Eros and Thanatos, the life and death drives, with a concern for the aggression tied to the death drive posing a threat to social harmony. However, Freud also acknowledges the interplay of multiple fundamental motivations, including the need for love and protection, indicating that human behavior is multifaceted and not solely driven by aggression.
Unpacking the Notion of Helplessness in Marxist Analysis
Freud's concept of helplessness, intertwined with the development of the life and death drives, provides a lens through which to consider human vulnerability and aggression in a societal context. This notion of helplessness connects with Marxist analyses, especially in understanding the broader psychological underpinnings of human behavior.
Examining Sublimation and Mechanisms of Competition in Cultural Contexts
The sublimation of aggression through mechanisms of competition, evident in cultural practices like social media interactions and sports, shows how human impulses can be redirected in complex ways. These sublimations can persist in post-capitalist societies, offering outlets for aggression and facilitating social interactions beyond mere economic concerns.
The Influence of Capitalism on Human Nature
Living in capitalist societies immerses individuals in symbolic orders intertwined with the mode of production, impacting behavior and motivations. Understanding the early influences of parental socialization and symbolic aspects, linked to capitalist dynamics, sheds light on how individuals embody values and behaviors related to capital accumulation.
Marx's Concept of Drive and Capitalist Motivation
Marx's economic texts reveal the proto-psychoanalytic use of the German term 'Trieb' to describe the systemic motivations behind individual behaviors within social structures. Contrasting the concept of selfishness in personal consumption, elite capitalists pursue accumulation beyond basic needs, driven by socio-symbolic status rather than mere possession. This understanding challenges traditional views of selfishness and consumerism within the context of capitalist ethos.
This week Coop and Taylor had the pleasure of hosting Adrian Johnston. Adrian is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque. He is the author of many books, including Time Driven: Metapsychology and the Splitting of the Drive; Irrepressible Truth: On Lacan’s “The Freudian Thing”; and A New German Idealism: Hegel, Žižek, and Dialectical Materialism. This year he has co-published, with Lorenzo Chiesa, God Is Undead: Psychoanalysis for Unbelievers, and has published Infinite Greed: The Inhuman Selfishness of Capital, which is the subject of today’s topic.
Book: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/infinite-greed/9780231214728
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Johnston_(philosopher)
Departmental: https://philosophy.unm.edu/people/faculty/profile/adrian-johnston.html
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