Capitalism has a rather bipolar nature based on the understanding of separate groups. Its enthusiastic advocates argue that it is a beneficial system that is not natural and, therefore, inevitable, but also promotes individualism and freedom. On the contrary, its equally zealous critics condemn it as a wholly man-made effort, in which “ if money comes into the world with a congenital blood-stain on one cheek, capital comes dripping from head to toe, from every pore, with blood and dirt.” Despite the difference between capitalism’s perceptions, almost none disagree that it, regardless of variations in time and space, had become the single largest economic system at present world after the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26th, 1991.
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The benefits and downfalls of capitalism have caused many debates ever since its birth, all set aside, but the focus of this essay will mainly consists some of the particular factors of capitalism which have fundamental influences on shaping it into the form we know today. I believe the most important features contributed to the beginning of capitalism are the changes in feudal system, governmental actions, and the Industrial Revolution; these specific events in times led to the introduction and rise of capitalism. While the nature of capitalism may varies based on individual differences in perceptions, there are, certainly, substantial amount of evidences proclaiming the immoral essence of capitalism. Prior to 1300s, societies, under feudal system, looked very different from how we perceive them today. Almost all the peasant or serf families, which comprised the majority of the population, were self-sufficient. They were bound to the lands and, the permanent tenant farmers for the high lords, made their living by participating in agricultural productions on their assigned lands and the commons. The lord would keep most of the final products, leaving only what’s enough for serfs not to starve. As mentioned in class, the serfs had little motives for …show more content…
Whether it is natural and the champion of freedom, or it is a man-made process and a tool of exploitation is still based on the judgements of individual, but one cannot deny that expropriation and exploitation of the commons are themes that stretched and evidenced throughout the history of capitalism. The developments of capitalism are now clear as well. The end of feudal system, saw the replacement of lords with rich capitalists, provided the market with new wave of labors, expanding surplus of supply and demand which lead to profits. The mixed of imperialism, colonialism, and mercantilism actions from the governments provided the capitalists with raw materials and more commercial supremacy in comparison with their non-European counterparts. Then the Industrial Revolution, ended with completed proletarianization process and increased productivity with fixed schedule of repetitive tasks, marked reliances on capitalists for production. These events combined gave us the momentum capitalism and led us to where we are
The benefits and downfalls of capitalism have caused many debates ever since its birth, all set aside, but the focus of this essay will mainly consists some of the particular factors of capitalism which have fundamental influences on shaping it into the form we know today. I believe the most important features contributed to the beginning of capitalism are the changes in feudal system, governmental actions, and the Industrial Revolution; these specific events in times led to the introduction and rise of capitalism. While the nature of capitalism may varies based on individual differences in perceptions, there are, certainly, substantial amount of evidences proclaiming the immoral essence of capitalism. Prior to 1300s, societies, under feudal system, looked very different from how we perceive them today. Almost all the peasant or serf families, which comprised the majority of the population, were self-sufficient. They were bound to the lands and, the permanent tenant farmers for the high lords, made their living by participating in agricultural productions on their assigned lands and the commons. The lord would keep most of the final products, leaving only what’s enough for serfs not to starve. As mentioned in class, the serfs had little motives for …show more content…
Whether it is natural and the champion of freedom, or it is a man-made process and a tool of exploitation is still based on the judgements of individual, but one cannot deny that expropriation and exploitation of the commons are themes that stretched and evidenced throughout the history of capitalism. The developments of capitalism are now clear as well. The end of feudal system, saw the replacement of lords with rich capitalists, provided the market with new wave of labors, expanding surplus of supply and demand which lead to profits. The mixed of imperialism, colonialism, and mercantilism actions from the governments provided the capitalists with raw materials and more commercial supremacy in comparison with their non-European counterparts. Then the Industrial Revolution, ended with completed proletarianization process and increased productivity with fixed schedule of repetitive tasks, marked reliances on capitalists for production. These events combined gave us the momentum capitalism and led us to where we are