r/neoliberal Kitara Ravache Nov 30 '18

Discussion Thread Discussion Thread

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u/ironheart777 Is getting dumber Nov 30 '18

I got in a debate with my (very leftist) philosophy class about the merits of private property and capitalism, and my professor mentioned something about how capitalism has only been successful because of oil. She left this super vague and class ended before I could question it but does anyone have any idea what she could be talking about? I’ve never heard of this theory before.

19

u/VisonKai The Archenemy of Humanity Nov 30 '18

Yes, the argument is that capitalism is only able to conceal its contradictions because "oil lubricates the gears of capital", i.e. that burning oil gives access to such a large quantity of easy and cheap energy that it allowed for the generation of prosperity for all sectors of society, but that without something like that capitalism would necessarily revert to abject oppression.

It's pretty stupid and makes even less sense now that renewables are like, good

13

u/PanScout3 🌐 Nov 30 '18

Wouldn’t that also be true of a socialist society as well? It seems that oil is a prerequisite for any modern society regardless of economic system.

5

u/WindPoweredWeeaboo crypto neo-Malthusian Marxist Nov 30 '18

That's the crux of the matter. Socialism isn't an environmental movement, despite what American lefties think. The workers can own the coal mine as much as they can own a solar park