THREAD
The history of capitalism
EDUCATION 
The point of this thread will be to explain how 'capitalism' is, not only an anti-concept, but a useless vague political buzzword.
The history of capitalism


The point of this thread will be to explain how 'capitalism' is, not only an anti-concept, but a useless vague political buzzword.
Disclaimer
I'm a voluntaryist/individualist anarchist/paleolibertarian
I believe in freed markets without state aggression.
I'm not a collectivist at all. Period. Though if individuals want to voluntarily collect like Mikhail Bakunin wanted to, I don't care.
I'm a voluntaryist/individualist anarchist/paleolibertarian
I believe in freed markets without state aggression.
I'm not a collectivist at all. Period. Though if individuals want to voluntarily collect like Mikhail Bakunin wanted to, I don't care.
Here we go
Capitalism is an anti-concept, used by both proponents and opponents alike.
They don't even know what it's purpose is at all whatsoever.
The term "capital" traces to ancient times and "capitalist" came with the financial revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Capitalism is an anti-concept, used by both proponents and opponents alike.
They don't even know what it's purpose is at all whatsoever.
The term "capital" traces to ancient times and "capitalist" came with the financial revolution of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Next
"Capitalism" is a product of political conflicts and economic transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries.
State socialist Louis Blanc coined it in 1850 to sneer at advocates of freed markets.
It was also done with the intention of letting communists control the debate
"Capitalism" is a product of political conflicts and economic transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries.
State socialist Louis Blanc coined it in 1850 to sneer at advocates of freed markets.
It was also done with the intention of letting communists control the debate
After half a century, Blanc never uttered the word again.
Karl Marx only mentioned it a few times later in life.
Before that, in 1871 an American interviewer from the NY Herald had to explain to him what he meant by it: "capitalism, that is, as you [Marx] would say, monopoly."
Karl Marx only mentioned it a few times later in life.
Before that, in 1871 an American interviewer from the NY Herald had to explain to him what he meant by it: "capitalism, that is, as you [Marx] would say, monopoly."
Still in 1880 it was not mentioned in the first published text of the French socialist congress.
But among state socialists, authoritarian communists and Marxists it became part of the vocabulary of revolt by the end of the century.
The same is still happening to this day.
But among state socialists, authoritarian communists and Marxists it became part of the vocabulary of revolt by the end of the century.
The same is still happening to this day.
Also important to note
European economists remained skeptical of the term’s validity for a while.
American economists rejected it well in the 1920s.
As late as 1925 there was no entry for "capitalism" in the Palgrave 'Dictionary of Political Economy'.
European economists remained skeptical of the term’s validity for a while.
American economists rejected it well in the 1920s.
As late as 1925 there was no entry for "capitalism" in the Palgrave 'Dictionary of Political Economy'.
And last, but not least, in this important area
The German book, the Handbuch der Staatswissenschaften, expressed doubt that it belonged in an academic work.
So what happened from here? Why is it that 'capitalism' has become tainted?
Stick around. There's more.
The German book, the Handbuch der Staatswissenschaften, expressed doubt that it belonged in an academic work.
So what happened from here? Why is it that 'capitalism' has become tainted?
Stick around. There's more.
As I have been trying to explain
The term is utterly meaningless to psychologically condition people to project their own understanding of 'capitalism' onto the definition of 'capitalism.'
So every individual has their own idea that is mutually exclusive to others' ideas.
The term is utterly meaningless to psychologically condition people to project their own understanding of 'capitalism' onto the definition of 'capitalism.'
So every individual has their own idea that is mutually exclusive to others' ideas.
As a result
They end up assuming that everybody is operating under the same definition.
For example
A so-called conservative would think they support freed markets while a communist thinks they're fighting the status quo.
Obviously not true on both ends.
They end up assuming that everybody is operating under the same definition.
For example
A so-called conservative would think they support freed markets while a communist thinks they're fighting the status quo.
Obviously not true on both ends.
Furthermore
They end of interpreting each other's definitions in usage of 'capitalism' as meaning what they believe it means.
It gets ugly from there and I've seen it happen ALL THE TIME.
Especially when I see anarcho-"capitalists" argue with the tankies.
They end of interpreting each other's definitions in usage of 'capitalism' as meaning what they believe it means.
It gets ugly from there and I've seen it happen ALL THE TIME.
Especially when I see anarcho-"capitalists" argue with the tankies.
What happens?
Well, the conservative interprets the communist as opposition to freed markets.
And then the communist interprets the conservative as private ownership of the means of production enforce by the State.
And they do so by reckless buzzing of the term!!!
Well, the conservative interprets the communist as opposition to freed markets.
And then the communist interprets the conservative as private ownership of the means of production enforce by the State.
And they do so by reckless buzzing of the term!!!
I don't need to go into further detail of the end result of that because it's awful.
But it does show why debating over what 'capitalism' is and/or what the correct definition is is a complete waste of time.
It turns into an argument over semantics, not having civil discourse.
But it does show why debating over what 'capitalism' is and/or what the correct definition is is a complete waste of time.
It turns into an argument over semantics, not having civil discourse.
While well intentioned, it was a mistake for Rothbard to create anarcho-"capitalism" since he inadvertently put libertarians in the position that I described above.
Make no mistake that I don't have negativity with him, Triple H, or Walter Block (who I know personally).
Make no mistake that I don't have negativity with him, Triple H, or Walter Block (who I know personally).
As shown by Gary Chartier
These are the 3 most used definitions of 'capitalism'
If capitalism1 is correct, then anarcho-"capitalism" is a redundant title.
More here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6929391D1020FDED
These are the 3 most used definitions of 'capitalism'
If capitalism1 is correct, then anarcho-"capitalism" is a redundant title.
More here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6929391D1020FDED
As far as I am concerned
Anarcho-capitalism is coming to an end, much like the partyarchists in the LP will fall as well.
The tide seems to have begun to turn back to its original roots of the early libertarians (aka classical liberals) and the individualist anarchists.
Anarcho-capitalism is coming to an end, much like the partyarchists in the LP will fall as well.
The tide seems to have begun to turn back to its original roots of the early libertarians (aka classical liberals) and the individualist anarchists.
Oh yes, I should also mention this as well
Adam Smith was NOT the father of 'capitalism.'
He never coined the term nor did he ever refer to himself as such.
Saying this is just as bad as saying that Joseph Dejacque, an ANCOM, coined the term 'libertarian.'
Adam Smith was NOT the father of 'capitalism.'
He never coined the term nor did he ever refer to himself as such.
Saying this is just as bad as saying that Joseph Dejacque, an ANCOM, coined the term 'libertarian.'
To finish this off
Most don't know socialism inherited its meaninglessness from 'capitalism.'
It used to mean what Benjamin Tucker, a free market anticapitalist, advocated for in his 1888 essay.
RIGHT HERE: http://praxeology.net/BT-SSA.htm
More on socialism: https://twitter.com/TheBasedPluto/status/1326744047852154881
Most don't know socialism inherited its meaninglessness from 'capitalism.'
It used to mean what Benjamin Tucker, a free market anticapitalist, advocated for in his 1888 essay.
RIGHT HERE: http://praxeology.net/BT-SSA.htm
More on socialism: https://twitter.com/TheBasedPluto/status/1326744047852154881