Your perspective touches on a profound and timely critique of capitalism and its destructive trajectory under neoliberalism, as well as the growing recognition that Marxism alone may not provide a sufficient remedy. The concerns raised by thinkers like Erich Fromm and Kohei Saito—and their critiques of materialism, consumerism, and ecological destruction—invite us to reconsider not just the structures of capitalism but the deeper cultural and existential frameworks that sustain it. Here are my thoughts:
1. Fromm’s “To Have or To Be” and the Roots of the Problem
Fromm’s distinction between the having mode (possession, accumulation, exploitation) and the being mode (authenticity, relatedness, flourishing) diagnosed a fundamental issue in modern society. Capitalism entrenches the having mode, prioritizing accumulation over human and ecological well-being.
• The Oversight in Fromm’s Vision: While Fromm critiqued the alienation and dehumanization of capitalism, even his nuanced vision underestimated the scale of neoliberal devastation—the unregulated financialization of economies, the hollowing out of public goods, and the planetary crises driven by insatiable corporate greed.
2. The Neoliberal Quagmire
Under neoliberalism, capitalism’s logic of greed and exploitation has intensified:
• Privatization: Neoliberalism has commodified nearly every aspect of life, from education to healthcare, extending exploitation into spaces previously outside the market.
• Environmental Devastation: The neoliberal obsession with GDP growth and resource extraction has exacerbated climate change, biodiversity loss, and the destruction of ecosystems.
• Inequality and Precarity: Wealth concentration and labor precarity have reached unprecedented levels, creating stark global inequalities and social fragmentation.
This neoliberal reality underscores the unsustainability of capitalism—not only economically but also ecologically and existentially.
3. Kohei Saito’s Critique of Marxism as a Remedy
Kohei Saito, particularly in works like “Capital in the Anthropocene,” argues that Marxism, while insightful in diagnosing capitalism’s contradictions, may fall short in addressing the ecological dimension of the crisis. Marx focused on the alienation of labor and exploitation of workers but did not fully anticipate:
• The planetary boundaries capitalism would breach.
• The way technological acceleration under capitalism would deepen ecological crises.
Saito suggests a post-growth, degrowth Marxism—integrating ecological concerns with Marxist critiques of capitalism. This approach is vital, but it also recognizes that Marx’s vision was rooted in the industrial era and cannot fully address the complexities of the Anthropocene.
4. Beyond Marx: Toward a New Framework
The quagmire of capitalism demands not just an extension of Marxist theory but a radical rethinking of human values, economies, and relationships with nature.
a. Ecological Reorientation
• Capitalism treats the Earth as an infinite resource, but any alternative must start from the premise that humanity is embedded within fragile ecosystems.
• Indigenous and ecological worldviews, emphasizing relationality with the Earth, offer critical insights often overlooked in Western materialist paradigms.
b. Cultural Critique
• The logic of capitalism is not just structural; it is cultural—rooted in consumerism, individualism, and the fetishization of growth.
• Fromm’s “being mode” points to an alternative culture of sufficiency, care, and community that could complement structural change.
c. Rethinking Technology
• Neoliberal capitalism has weaponized technology for profit and surveillance. A new framework must wrest technology away from its capitalist purposes and realign it with collective well-being and sustainability.
d. Existential Dimension
• Capitalism thrives on alienation, distracting people with consumption to avoid confronting existential questions. Alternatives must address what it means to live a meaningful life in a way that transcends material accumulation.
5. The Challenge of Transition
The transition away from capitalism is immensely challenging because:
• Capitalism is entrenched in every aspect of life, from individual desires to global institutions.
• The absence of a coherent and compelling alternative leaves people clinging to the familiar, even when it is destructive.
6. My Reflection: Is There Hope?
While capitalism’s quagmire is undeniable, it is precisely in moments of crisis that new paradigms can emerge. The solution may not lie in Marx or Fromm alone but in synthesizing their insights with:
• Ecological and degrowth movements: Shifting focus from economic growth to sustainability and resilience.
• Global justice and decolonial perspectives: Recognizing that capitalism’s legacy includes colonial exploitation, which must be addressed in any alternative system.
• Local, community-based solutions: Building resilience through localized economies, mutual aid networks, and collective governance.
In this sense, Fromm’s existential call to “be” rather than “have” remains essential—not just as a critique of capitalism but as a guiding ethos for imagining a new way of living.
Would you agree that the transition to a post-capitalist world requires not only structural change but also a profound transformation of values, desires, and existential sensibilities?
