Description
Book SynopsisAt the heart of capitalism lies the idea of ‘homo economicus’: an ever-rational human being motivated by self-interest which arguably leads societies to economic prosperity. Drawing on French sociologist Marcel Mauss' influential theory of ‘the gift’, Frank Adloff shatters this fallacy to show mutual trust is the only glue that holds societies together; people are giving beings and they can cooperate for the benefit of all when the logic of maximizing personal gain in capitalism is broken. Acknowledging the role of women, nature, and workers in the Global South in transforming society, this book proposes a politics of conviviality, (from the Latin con-vivere: living together) for global and environmental justice as an alternative to the pursuit of profit, growth, and consumption.
Table of ContentsIntroduction: From Capitalism’s Crises to a Convivial Society Part 1: An Anthropology of Giving 1. Self-interest, Altruism, and the Gift 2. Mauss’ Gift 3. 'Homo donator': A Different Anthropology Part 2: Society’s Gifts 4. Locating the Gift in Society 5. The Gift between Socialism and Capitalism 6. Commodities, Values, Money, Gifts Part 3: Crossing the Borders 7. Science and Technology, Nature and Conviviality 8. Gifts of Nature 9. Civil Society, Conviviality, Utopia Part 4: Worlds of Conviviality 10. Aesthetic Freedom, or The Gift of Art 11. Pluriversalism: Towards a European and Global Politics of Conviviality Conclusion
