Moishe Postone - Time, Labor, and Social Domination

Das Kapital is a comprehensive critique of capitalism written by Karl Marx. The work is divided into three volumes. Volume I, published in 1867, focuses on the production process of capital, introducing the concept of surplus value and the exploitation of labor. Volume II, published posthumously in 1885, examines the circulation of capital, while Volume III, published in 1894, discusses the capitalist process as a whole, including the internal differentiation of the capitalist class and the tendency of the rate of profit to fall. Marx argues that capitalism is characterized by the exploitation of labor, leading to class conflict and eventual crises that necessitate the emergence of a new mode of production.

A Thousand Plateaus is a key text in the 'Capitalism and Schizophrenia' series by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari. It advances a unique philosophical approach that draws from but critiques both Freudian and Marxist theories. The book is structured as a series of 'plateaus' that can be read in any order, each exploring different concepts such as rhizomes, stratification, and the distinction between smooth and striated space. It is essential reading for those interested in critical theory, feminism, literary theory, and contemporary Western culture.

In 'I, Pencil,' Leonard Read uses the humble pencil as a metaphor to explain the intricate web of global cooperation and specialization that underlies modern production. The essay emphasizes the concept of the 'invisible hand,' demonstrating how millions of people contribute to the creation of a simple pencil without a central authority directing them. This work serves as a powerful introduction to the principles of free market economics and the interconnectedness of human endeavors.

Guattari's Schizoanalytic Cartographies is a collection of essays exploring diverse themes such as subjectivity, social movements, and the politics of desire. He advocates for a schizoanalytic approach that challenges traditional psychoanalytic and philosophical frameworks, emphasizing the importance of desire, creativity, and collective action. Guattari examines the role of cartography as a tool for mapping and transforming social and psychic territories. He explores the connections between art, politics, and everyday life, calling for a radical reinvention of subjectivity and social relations. This collection provides insights into Guattari's innovative and interdisciplinary approach to understanding and transforming the world.

In 'Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia, Volume I,' Deleuze and Guattari challenge traditional psychoanalytic models and Marxist orthodoxies by analyzing desire as a productive force entangled with social and economic structures. They argue against Oedipalization as the primary form of psychic organization and propose a molecular politics of desire that resists hierarchical coding. The book blends philosophy, political theory, and clinical observation to critique how capitalist systems encode and exploit desire. It introduces concepts such as desiring-production, socius, and the body without organs, reshaping debates about subjectivity and power. Its experimental style and interdisciplinary scope made it a key text in poststructuralist thought.