What's Left of Philosophy 124 | Living Through Capitalism w/ Dr. James Chamberlain
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Nov 19, 2025 James Chamberlain, an associate professor in political science and author of *Living Through Capitalism*, delves into capitalism’s impact on life in this engaging discussion. He argues that capitalism is hostile to biological processes, undermining not just human existence but all life forms. Chamberlain draws connections between the COVID pandemic and a life-centered critique of capitalism, exploring concepts like multi-species injustice and the potential for resistance among non-human beings. He advocates for 'communities of life' to foster genuine freedom from capitalism's constraints.
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Capitalism's Vital Siphoning
- James argues capitalism performs a 'vital siphoning' that harnesses and redirects life processes toward profit, mutilating living capacities.
- Freedom requires detaching satisfaction of needs from the development of productive forces and reclaiming knowledge of life.
Reclaim Knowledge Through Communities
- Regain 'knowledge of life' by re-associating bodily cognition with living processes rather than abstract mental cognition alone.
- Build communities that foster life and resist capital's teleology to enable flourishing.
COVID Triggered A Life-Centered Critique
- Chamberlain traced his life-centered critique to the COVID pandemic highlighting how political economy places economic cost on life.
- That experience motivated broadening critique to how capitalism hijacks life processes themselves.
