Exploring the choices between slavery and the market, the impact of possessing new technology, the concept of being a 'god' with access to new technologies, the role of primitive accumulation in the development of capitalism, the contradictory portrayal of work in history, the concept of idleness and its impact on the feudal period, the economic analysis of Adam Smith and the power of the state, the influence of capitalism on work and leisure, the origins of game laws and the impact of land enclosure on society, the definition of socialism as state capitalism, and the concept of scarcity and its influence on the value of goods.
The dissociation of work from leisure during the rise of capitalism led to a negative perception of holidays as unproductive and a waste of time.
The introduction of game laws and the privatization of land eroded the ability of individuals to sustain themselves through subsistence living.
The criminalization of poaching and the commodification of game deprived the rural poor of access to meat and disrupted centuries-old traditions of self-provisioning.
The prevalence of private property and the fear of infringing upon it created a climate of insecurity and hesitance, eroding communal understandings of land and resources.
Deep dives
The Decline of Holidays and the Perception of Idleness
During the Middle Ages, there were numerous holidays and festivities that provided a break from work and allowed for communal celebration. However, with the rise of capitalism and the dissociation of work from leisure, holidays began to be seen as idleness and a waste of time. The perception shifted so that work became synonymous with wage labor, and any time spent not earning money was considered unproductive. This fundamental change in mindset reflected the shift towards a society driven by profit and productivity.
The Impact of Game Laws on Subsistence Living
The introduction of game laws, which prohibited hunting and fishing, further eroded the ability of individuals to sustain themselves through subsistence living. These laws, enacted in the 17th and 18th centuries, prioritized private ownership of land and commodities, making it illegal for people to hunt or fish for their own sustenance. This forced individuals to rely on wage labor to survive, as the means of self-provisioning were gradually taken away. The enforcement of game laws drastically changed the relationship between individuals and the land, destroying the centuries-old tradition of subsistence living.
The Perception of Poaching and Enclosure
Poaching, once seen as a means of providing food for oneself and one's family, became criminalized as a result of game laws and the privatization of land. Poachers, who sought to obtain game for their own consumption, were now viewed as stealing from private landowners and were harshly punished. The commodification of game and the increasing value attributed to it by landowners led to a shift in perception, as poaching began to be seen as a means of acquiring a valuable commodity rather than as an act of self-provisioning. This led to a loss of access to meat for the rural poor, as the confiscated game would no longer reach their tables.
The Fear and Timidity of Private Property
The prevalence of private property and the enforcement of ownership rights led to a pervasive fear and timidity in society. Activities such as fishing in a river or hunting in a forest became sources of anxiety, as individuals worried about infringing upon the private property of others. The mindset of ownership and the perception of scarcity created an atmosphere of insecurity and hesitance, where individuals were constantly concerned about being accused of trespassing or theft. This marked a significant departure from the previous communal understanding of land and resources, where sharing and collective use were the norm.
The Suppression of Indigenous Cultures
The podcast episode explores how indigenous cultures, such as Native American hunting practices, had a greater affinity with Catholic teaching than with the regime of private property. It is explained that the English settlers in America fled from Catholicism and established a regime of private property, which resulted in the destruction of native cultures and their dependence on the industrial economy. This sheds light on the historical connection between colonialism, capitalism, and the suppression of native cultures.
The Creation of Wage Labor
The podcast discusses how capitalism required the creation of wage labor and how the deliberate suppression of peasant life and self-sufficiency played a crucial role in this process. The enclosures, game laws, suppression of holidays, and the making of idleness and self-sufficiency as vices were all part of this strategy to ensure the dependence of the labor force on the industrial economy. The introduction of wage labor and the commodification of work led to a disconnection between work and its purpose, creating a population that loathes their work and views rest as only a means to restore themselves for further production.
Reclaiming Ownership and Freedom
The podcast highlights the importance of reclaiming ownership and the cultivation of self-sufficient and communal practices as a means of breaking free from wage labor and attaining true freedom. It emphasizes that the Catholic vision of a Christian social order necessitates the radical Christianization of the entire economy and the development of new habits of ownership. Cultivating gardens, creating commons, and breaking away from habits of luxury and consumerism are seen as important steps towards restoring the purposeful reality of work and allowing a comprehension of true freedom in Christ.
