The first time I listened to a critique of capitalism was in an introduction to criminology course. It was odd. The professor went on and on about capitalism’s need for a criminal class and how Marx wasn’t readily understood or appreciated. Honestly, I didn’t get it.
My criminology professor, however, was tame compared to my sociology professors. They tried to impress me with big words, elaborate theorizing, “critical insight,” and impassioned pleas....all from a Marxist perspective. Again, as a student I really didn’t understand how so many professors in the social sciences could hate the economic system that made the American university system possible.
Fast forward a few decades later. I read a book titled “In Defense of Capitalism.” It was the first book I had ever read that didn’t bash capitalism that, instead, offered a logical and careful analysis of the varied benefits of this economic system. From there I went on to read about economics, game theory, micro-macro economic theory, financial policy......all the things that are nerdy. Instead of spouting the same crap my professors said, I began to incorporate many of these arguments.
But why do academics hate capitalism? That’s a good question and one where you can get an answer here:
https://reason.com/archives/2015/10/27/why-intellectuals-hate-capital
My criminology professor, however, was tame compared to my sociology professors. They tried to impress me with big words, elaborate theorizing, “critical insight,” and impassioned pleas....all from a Marxist perspective. Again, as a student I really didn’t understand how so many professors in the social sciences could hate the economic system that made the American university system possible.
Fast forward a few decades later. I read a book titled “In Defense of Capitalism.” It was the first book I had ever read that didn’t bash capitalism that, instead, offered a logical and careful analysis of the varied benefits of this economic system. From there I went on to read about economics, game theory, micro-macro economic theory, financial policy......all the things that are nerdy. Instead of spouting the same crap my professors said, I began to incorporate many of these arguments.
But why do academics hate capitalism? That’s a good question and one where you can get an answer here:
https://reason.com/archives/2015/10/27/why-intellectuals-hate-capital
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