Topic: Philosophical Reflections on Social Thought: The Works of Karl Polyani

Catalog description

Polyani's book The Great Transformation: the political and economic origins of our time" was a monumental achievement in intellectual history. Yet it remains mostly obscure and unread. This course is an attempt to correct that oversight. Written in 1944 the book had seismic consequences shaking the foundation of political/economy. Leaving behind Karl Marx and his theory of economic determinism, Polyani argues that 'satanic mills' of capitalism are diabolical not because of human greed and relentlessness acquisition, but because capitalism tore apart the fabric of society and created in its place the isolated individual whose only attachment to others is contractual. Restrictions/Requirements One 100-level Philosophy course.