Philosophical Dictionary

Adam Smith is quoted constantly and read almost never. The invisible hand appears three times in a lifetime of writing. He described landlords as those who reap where they never sowed. His first book was about sympathy, not self-interest. The popular Adam Smith was built by think tanks. Here is the real one.

In which we discuss Karl Marx's criticisms of capitalism, us, the Labor Theory of Value, and freedom. With bonus thought experiment.

In which we discuss Karl Marx's anti-capitalist roots, delving into the history of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century and relating these critiques to our current situation as society in late stage capitalism.

In which we discuss the philosophical concept of the social construct. What is a social construct and what makes something a social construct?

In which we discuss Karl Marx's theories of alienation of labor and wage slavery in our contemporary context.

Explore Mark Fisher's critique of capitalism, focusing on his concept of capitalist realism—the idea that it's easier to imagine global catastrophe than an alternative to capitalism. Tied to Slavoj Žižek's notion of surplus-enjoyment, Fisher argues that capitalism traps us in cycles of unfulfilling desire. While this may seem bleak, I offer ways to navigate capitalism's demands without falling into exploitation, emphasizing the importance of a personal philosophy of life for resisting distractions and finding meaning. For more, subscribe to our Memesletter for digestible philosophical insights.