Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber A Return to Materialism
Jan 15, 2025
Dive into the revitalization of materialism in socialist thought. Explore how understanding workers' material interests can reshape political strategy. Learn why rationality shouldn't be confused with narrow theories and how experiential knowledge influences political choices. Discover the commonalities in trade union demands across cultures and the necessity of immersive organizing to empower the working class. This insightful discussion emphasizes how a materialist perspective can guide effective collective action.
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Material Interests Shape Ideas
- Materialism asserts ideas and norms have social foundations rather than being innate.
- People are motivated by objective material interests shaping their choices and politics.
Don't Conflate Materialism With Economic Maxims
- Critics conflate materialism with narrow economic rationality from neoclassical economics.
- That conflation creates an allergy to 'rationality' though a broader rationality is compatible with materialism.
Rationality As A Constraint, Not Greed
- Rationality need not mean maximizing every interaction; it can be a constraint shaping feasible sacrifices.
- People pursue sufficient material security to enable other values like family or art.