Is Capitalism "The Final Stage"?

[United Chinese Communes]

If people's material and psychological needs are met, they are unlikely to partake in activity that would require the authority of a state to clamp down on.

If that were true, we wouldn't have any millionare/billionaire criminals. Hell, probably not even middle-class criminals.

That isn't the case.

While they may be materially well-off, social conditions under capitalism affect even those running the show. They still suffer from alienation and social atomisation, possibly even more than the rest of us in the latter case.

[Shanghai industrial complex]

Capitalism is an economic system, not a political system.......When the productivity has been improved by leaps and bounds, mankind will bid farewell to capitalism and come to the next stage.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Most likely capitalism is in its dying stage considering how much damage it has done to planet earth with its runaway excesses. I dont know exactly what the next system will be although I hope it's at least better in a few places.

Please keep in mind that having a free market alone does not a capitalist society make. Capitalism is about more than just buying and selling shit, so I'm not saying I think market economies as a concept will totally go extinct, just capitalism.

[Sundiata]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with luxury.goods.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with luxury.goods.

Imo our society sucks because everyone keeps fighting for luxury and valuing human lives based on the luxury they can afford to live in. Everyone needs to stop chasing luxury and simplify their lives.

[Sanghyeok]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with luxury.goods.

And as I've noted, luxury goods can exist in other economic systems. Feudalism had its' excesses, capitalisms and state socialism have theirs. That being said, Patek Phillipe does seem somewhat wasteful when there are so many impoverished masses without even shoes or clothing. Of course, if anyone has an extra Burberry coat (preferably honey coloured), I'm accepting donations.

[Australian rePublic]

Left-winged capitalism works for most people (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Western Europe). No other system in the history of ever has been able to say that. Not full blown capitalism, not socialism, not communism. Nothing. Nothing works as well as left-winged capitalism

[Exxosia]

Capitalism leads to plenty for all. Plenty for all leads to lowering costs. Lowering costs lead to breaking through the scarcity barrier. Breaking through the scarcity barrier leads to a post-production, post-scarcity system.

So if we let capitalism run its course, it will eventually lead to a system that renders all other systems entirely moot.

Is the current stage of capitalism the final one? Not even remotely. Socialistic, cronyistic, and oligarchic parasitism is choking it to death. At the current rate, we'll likely see a major collapse and have to start the majority of the 1,200 year cycle over again.

When other things kill capitalism, things just reset and we go through the process again.

When capitalism kills itself, you get basically replicators and transporters and limitless energy that can provide more than anyone needs.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Left-winged capitalism works for most people (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Western Europe). No other system in the history of ever has been able to say that. Not full blown capitalism, not socialism, not communism. Nothing. Nothing works as well as left-winged capitalism

Which is why we are currently living through a mass extinction and why it's almost too late to stop run away climate change.

Yay capitalism. #1 in probably dooming more lives than Stalin.

[Kowani]

If people's material and psychological needs are met, they are unlikely to partake in activity that would require the authority of a state to clamp down on.

If that were true, we wouldn't have any millionare/billionaire criminals. Hell, probably not even middle-class criminals.

That isn't the case.

eh, you could probably argue that those people's needs aren't being psychologically met by the modern world

[Australian rePublic]

Capitalism leads to plenty for all. Plenty for all leads to lowering costs. Lowering costs lead to breaking through the scarcity barrier. Breaking through the scarcity barrier leads to a post-production, post-scarcity system.

So if we let capitalism run its course, it will eventually lead to a system that renders all other systems entirely moot.

Is the current stage of capitalism the final one? Not even remotely. Socialistic, cronyistic, and oligarchic parasitism is choking it to death. At the current rate, we'll likely see a major collapse and have to start the majority of the 1,200 year cycle over again.

When other things kill capitalism, things just reset and we go through the process again.

When capitalism kills itself, you get basically replicators and transporters and limitless energy that can provide more than anyone needs.

Yep. Indeed. All communist countries abandoned communism upon realising that communism doesn't work. China was even worse than it is now before the country became capitalist.

[Australian rePublic]

Left-winged capitalism works for most people (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Western Europe). No other system in the history of ever has been able to say that. Not full blown capitalism, not socialism, not communism. Nothing. Nothing works as well as left-winged capitalism

Which is why we are currently living through a mass extinction and why it's almost too late to stop run away climate change.

Yay capitalism. #1 in probably dooming more lives than Stalin.

That's a matter of technological advancement, not capitalism. It's better than communism which killed millions in a year

[Kowani]

Which is why we are currently living through a mass extinction and why it's almost too late to stop run away climate change.

Yay capitalism. #1 in probably dooming more lives than Stalin.

That's a matter of technological advancement, not capitalism

this is an asinine point to get hung up on because the two things are inseparable when you're talking about climate change

[Sanghyeok]

That's a matter of technological advancement, not capitalism

this is an asinine point to get hung up on because the two things are inseparable when you're talking about climate change

Particularly because capitalism itself is emphasising profit and growth above the environment.

[Disgraces]

Friendly reminder that:
Capitalism = most or all means of productions privately owned for profit
Economic liberalism = too much to simplify but basically irregulated capitalism
Capitalism ≠ economically liberal

[Shanghai industrial complex]

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with luxury.goods.

Until I knew that some luxury goods and ordinary products came out in the same assembly line.Different labels, different profits.

[Australian rePublic]

That's a matter of technological advancement, not capitalism

this is an asinine point to get hung up on because the two things are inseparable when you're talking about climate change

Would you rather live in Mao's China or Deng Xioping's China? Would you rather in Stalin's Russia or Putin's Russia? Would you rather live in North Korea or South Korea? Would you rather live in modern Italy or fedual Italy? Would you rather live in 1930's America or 1930's Germany? Would you rather live in East Berlin or West Berlin? Capitalism is the best system, not perfect, but the best

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Most likely capitalism is in its dying stage considering how much damage it has done to planet earth with its runaway excesses. I dont know exactly what the next system will be although I hope it's at least better in a few places.

Please keep in mind that having a free market alone does not a capitalist society make. Capitalism is about more than just buying and selling shit, so I'm not saying I think market economies as a concept will totally go extinct, just capitalism.

How does an economic system destroy an environment? What about small businesses and governments? There are corrupt corporations, of course. There are some that need to be taken down for other reasons, and others that do pollute the environment, but capitalism is defined as an economic system in which private ownership controls the means of production. I do not see how this definition relates to the environment, but I am also being literal.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Friendly reminder that:
Capitalism = most or all means of productions privately owned for profit
Economic liberalism = too much to simplify but basically irregulated capitalism
Capitalism ≠ economically liberal

Gee I wonder what political system Jeff Bezos would prefer.
Point being, neoliberalism is intrinsically linked to and favoured by the class driving modern capitalism forwards.

[Kowani]

this is an asinine point to get hung up on because the two things are inseparable when you're talking about climate change

Would you rather live in Mao's China or Deng Xioping's China? Would you rather in Stalin's Russia or Putin's Russia? Would you rather live in North Korea or South Korea? Would you rather live in modern Italy or fedual Italy? Would you rather live in 1930's America or 1930's Germany? Would you rather live in East Berlin or West Berlin? Capitalism is the best system, not perfect, but the best

...tf is this supposed to prove
is it just "throw in different iterations of the same country and claim one is best because its ideologically beneficial to me so i don't have to think about the ramifications of my preferred system"
wait yes that's exactly what it is

[Odreria]

well, considering its destroying the planet as we speak, probably not

that kinda suggests that it will be the final stage.

[Kowani]

well, considering its destroying the planet as we speak, probably not

that kinda suggests that it will be the final stage.

nah
we'll collapse into some sort of scavenger-barter economy as we all die

[Disgraces]

Friendly reminder that:
Capitalism = most or all means of productions privately owned for profit
Economic liberalism = too much to simplify but basically irregulated capitalism
Capitalism ≠ economically liberal

Gee I wonder what political system Jeff Bezos would prefer.

Laissez-faire capitalism :v

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Gee I wonder what political system Jeff Bezos would prefer.

Laissez-faire capitalism

An absolute system at which he is the head.

[Sanghyeok]

Most likely capitalism is in its dying stage considering how much damage it has done to planet earth with its runaway excesses. I dont know exactly what the next system will be although I hope it's at least better in a few places.

Please keep in mind that having a free market alone does not a capitalist society make. Capitalism is about more than just buying and selling shit, so I'm not saying I think market economies as a concept will totally go extinct, just capitalism.

How does an economic system destroy an environment? What about small businesses and governments? There are corrupt corporations, of course. There are some that need to be taken down for other reasons, and others that do pollute the environment, but capitalism is defined as an economic system in which private ownership controls the means of production. I do not see how this definition relates to the environment, but I am also being literal.

Since nobody else has responded to this post, I'll try to give an explanation (although if someone else wants to edit/correct me, please feel free).
Capitalism, as you mentioned, is where the means of production are privately owned. By itself that doesn't sound menacing. However, when the ownership of means of production being concentrated in the hands of the few is how profit maximisation for those few becomes an issue. Profit maximisation, of course, encourages efficiency and production, and firms will produce to whatever limit will bring them the most short term profit. That doesn't include incentives to preserve the environment.

This is one problem. If firms only consider profits, then it follows firms will not consider externalities from their production. A steel plant may only care about producing more steel, not the damage that is being dealt to the environment via pollution. If externalities are considered in the production of steel, then costs (to society/environment and to firm) will be higher, and the firm produces less. But firms do not consider those externalities and only their internal costs and benefits, therefore producing more than socially desirable for the sake of the firm. In the case where states do not intervene, this is an outcome where society loses. The free market cannot and will not regulate itself in this case. Even in cases where the state can intervene, we see pushback from those firms where they either resist new legislation or seek to overturn old legislation- see rejection of Paris Climate Treaty in the US during your Trump Era (2017-2021) as one recent example.

Other issues include short-term thinking, the infinite growth in production and consumption (not possible on our finite planet), and nations being too tied to the interests of business groups (and therefore being unable to enact proper controls to externalities). I'm sure someone else can name more and describe them better than I can, though, so I leave that to them.