The Nature and Logic of Capitalism

by Robert L. Heilbroner

Overview

In The Worldly Philosophers, Robert Heilbroner set out to describe what the great economists thought would happen to the system of capitalism. In later books. Professor Heilbroner projected his own views about the future of the capitalist system. Now he asks a still more demanding question: What is capitalism?

In search of an answer, The Nature and Logic of Capitalism takes us on a far-ranging exploration to the unconscious levels of the human psyche and the roots of domination and submission; to the organization of primitive society and the origins of wealth; to the sources of profit and the conception of a "regime" of capital; to the interplay of relatively slow-changing institutions and the powerful force of the accumulation of wealth. By the end of this tour we have grappled not only with ideas of Adam Smith and Karl Marx but with Freud and modern anthropologists as well. And we are far closer to understanding capitalism in our time, its possibilities and limits.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393955293
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	09/17/1986
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	1590L (what's this?)

About the Author

Robert L. Heilbroner (1919-2005) was Norman Thomas Professor of Economics at the New School for Social Research and author of The Worldly Philosophers and many other books.

Editorial Reviews

Heilbroner brings his thoughts to the question ``What is capitalism?'' He re fers to earlier civilizations but most of the work deals with American capital ism. His focus is on the social forma tion of capitalismits nature and its logicthe process that surrounds the accumulation of capital. This treatise thus represents Heilbroner's descrip tion of the capital accumulation pro cess, the role of government, and capi talist development, along with the multiple ideologies that can surround capitalism. The theories of numerous other writers, including Marx, Smith, Veblen, Lowe, and Mandel, are both criticized and praised. Difficult reading but important for larger public and aca demic libraries. Jane M. Kathman, Man age ment Dept., Coll. of St. Bene dict, St. Joseph, Minn.

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