By determining how the base mode of production prioritizes them. It doesn’t matter what an individual prefers, ie we could say Musk as an individual seeks power, but in doing so has to satisfy the laws of capitalism and achieve higher and higher profits to maintain it. Musk isn’t primary, the system he has to abide by is. Capitalists aren’t the masters of capitalism, as Roderic Day says they are the high priests of capital that best abide its laws, ie the pursuit of profit.
No, they aren’t “harmless” either. It isn’t about “getting a high score.” Capitalism is based on profits and selects for those that are most profitable, there’s no such thing as an “ethical capitalism” because even if a capitalist decided individually to stop pursuing profits above all else, others would overtake them and the “ethical” capitalist would go under.
Of course there’s no ethical capitalist, nor are capitalists arithmomaniacs obsessed with gaining money the sake of gaining money. Money is an expression of power, money itself is not the goal it’s the power.
Capitalism is a material, existing system that does not care about power. All it cares about is whoever best achieves profits in the system. As there is a tendency for the rate of profit to fall, absolute profits must be raised by rapid and continuous expansion. Power is merely a tool for that purpose, a capitalist that doesn’t manipulate the state to its own ends, etc fails to outcompete. In capitalism, even if the action is abhorant, if it’s profitable, it will be done.
By putting notions of power above profit, you utterly confuse the driving aspect of economies based on circulation of commodities and reproduction on an expanded scale, ie capitalism. It doesn’t matter if the capitalists has everything they want as an individual, if they choose to stop pursuing profits, they sink and new capitalists that are willing to continue will take their place, because capitalists are a class, and not just a group of individuals alone.
In non-monetary historical societies, the rulers still sought power.
They still sought power to obtain more material posessions and luxury goods. Power is a tool, not an end.
Why does someone with €20 billion strive to get €30 billion? Will that get them nicer food or a softer bed?
Because capitalism is a control system that selects for those that are most profitable. If you don’t grow, you die.
You’re making a distinction between
How would we empirically tell which is happening?
By determining how the base mode of production prioritizes them. It doesn’t matter what an individual prefers, ie we could say Musk as an individual seeks power, but in doing so has to satisfy the laws of capitalism and achieve higher and higher profits to maintain it. Musk isn’t primary, the system he has to abide by is. Capitalists aren’t the masters of capitalism, as Roderic Day says they are the high priests of capital that best abide its laws, ie the pursuit of profit.
Didn’t you know all that capis want is a big number? They’re basically harmless little redditors trying to get a high karma score that’s all.
No, they aren’t “harmless” either. It isn’t about “getting a high score.” Capitalism is based on profits and selects for those that are most profitable, there’s no such thing as an “ethical capitalism” because even if a capitalist decided individually to stop pursuing profits above all else, others would overtake them and the “ethical” capitalist would go under.
Of course there’s no ethical capitalist, nor are capitalists arithmomaniacs obsessed with gaining money the sake of gaining money. Money is an expression of power, money itself is not the goal it’s the power.
Capitalism is a material, existing system that does not care about power. All it cares about is whoever best achieves profits in the system. As there is a tendency for the rate of profit to fall, absolute profits must be raised by rapid and continuous expansion. Power is merely a tool for that purpose, a capitalist that doesn’t manipulate the state to its own ends, etc fails to outcompete. In capitalism, even if the action is abhorant, if it’s profitable, it will be done.
By putting notions of power above profit, you utterly confuse the driving aspect of economies based on circulation of commodities and reproduction on an expanded scale, ie capitalism. It doesn’t matter if the capitalists has everything they want as an individual, if they choose to stop pursuing profits, they sink and new capitalists that are willing to continue will take their place, because capitalists are a class, and not just a group of individuals alone.