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Although I haven't read Captial and Ideology, Piketty seems to be situated in a weird place, as I gathered by his previous book. He isn't critical of capitalism

Although I haven't read Captial and Ideology, Piketty seems to be situated in a weird place, as I gathered by his previous book. He isn't critical of capitalism as such[0] - as economists like Sen, Roemer, Kliman and Veneziani are, but on the other hand he is aware of the transparent ideological forces which shape the way we view the economy and capital. The content of this book, between social, historical and economic axes seems closer to Marx than Samuelson - and it's refreshing in a climate that seems to take the concepts under investigation for granted. I look forward to reading it. [0] There is a debate between Piketty and Marx-leaning philosopher/economist Frederic Lordon in French: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDY3aczWOd0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDY3aczWOd0

bart_spoon 7y ago
> Piketty seems to be situated in a weird place, as I gathered by his previous book. He isn't critical of capitalism as such[0] - as economists like Sen, Roemer, Kliman and Veneziani are, but on the other hand he is aware of the transparent ideological forces which shape the way we view the economy and capital. That weird place is simply social democracy. It seems to be unpopular because it is essentially the "centrism" of the capitalism/socialism debate, and everyone hates centrists these days.
- claudiawerner 7y ago
  I think that's an overly generous characterization of social democracy - it only dodges the critique from right-libertarians concerning property, taxes and the role of government, and it dodges the critique from left-libertarians on capital, alienation and social domination. It's much easier (and more historically accurate) to see social democracy, socialism and capitalism on the same axis, and not to think that social democracy transcends all hitherto established political and economic thought by The Right Choice as if by default.

bart_spoon 7y ago

> Piketty seems to be situated in a weird place, as I gathered by his previous book. He isn't critical of capitalism as such[0] - as economists like Sen, Roemer, Kliman and Veneziani are, but on the other hand he is aware of the transparent ideological forces which shape the way we view the economy and capital. That weird place is simply social democracy. It seems to be unpopular because it is essentially the "centrism" of the capitalism/socialism debate, and everyone hates centrists these days.

claudiawerner 7y ago
I think that's an overly generous characterization of social democracy - it only dodges the critique from right-libertarians concerning property, taxes and the role of government, and it dodges the critique from left-libertarians on capital, alienation and social domination. It's much easier (and more historically accurate) to see social democracy, socialism and capitalism on the same axis, and not to think that social democracy transcends all hitherto established political and economic thought by The Right Choice as if by default.