Oli Mould - Seven Ethics Against Capitalism

1 Cover

2 Endorsement ‘ Seven Ethics Against Capitalism sharply reveals the multiple crises being generated by the capitalist mode of production – from climate breakdown, to inequality, to the erosion of democracy – and how impossible it would be to fix any of these problems without a radical transformation in the way we organize society. Mould convincingly argues that values such as solidarity, stewardship and radical love must be at the heart of this new vision for the world, as well as the movements aiming to bring it into being.’ Grace Blakeley, author of Stolen: How to Save the World from Financialisation ‘In times when everything from nature to desire is being privatized, to shift our attention towards planetary commons is an essential ethical duty. Oli Mould’s timely Seven Ethics Against Capitalism is an urgent and passionate call not only to deeply rethink our dire present but to create the conditions for our common future beyond capitalism.’ Srećko Horvat, author of After the Apocalypse ‘A conceptual toolkit and survival guide for outliving capitalism. Through an original, compelling and readable account of the commons, Mould distils a set of ethical dispositions for building a more convivial and democratic future.’ David Madden, London School of Economics and Political Science

3 Title Page Seven Ethics Against Capitalism Towards a Planetary Commons Oli Mould polity

4 Copyright Copyright © Oli Mould 2021 The right of Oli Mould to be identified as Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published in 2021 by Polity Press Polity Press 65 Bridge Street Cambridge CB2 1UR, UK Polity Press 101 Station Landing Suite 300 Medford, MA 02155, USA All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of criticism and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISBN-13: 978-1-5095-4597-1 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Mould, Oliver, author. Title: Seven ethics against capitalism : towards a planetary commons / Oli Mould. Description: Cambridge, UK ; Medford, MA : Polity Press, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “From ‘failure’ to ‘slowness’, how to throw off the shackles of capitalism”-- Provided by publisher. Identifiers: LCCN 2020052810 (print) | LCCN 2020052811 (ebook) | ISBN 9781509545957 (hardback) | ISBN 9781509545964 (paperback) | ISBN 9781509545971 (epub) Subjects: LCSH: Capitalism--Moral and ethical aspects. Classification: LCC HB501 .M7629 2021 (print) | LCC HB501 (ebook) | DDC 174/.4--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020052810 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020052811 The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate. Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been overlooked the publisher will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent reprint or edition. For further information on Polity, visit our website: politybooks.com

5 Acknowledgements

6 Introduction The commons A history of the commons The planetary commons Ethics The Covid event Organizing towards a planetary commons Notes

7 Ethic 1: Mutualism A history of self-interest Neoliberalism Mutualism The science of we Philosophical connections Notes

8 Ethic 2: Transmaterialism Veganism Right to repair Eco-squats Notes

9 Ethic 3: Minoritarianism Becoming minor(itarian) Intersectionality Staying minor Minoritarianism Notes

10 Ethic 4: Decodification Codification: a philosophy of numbers The quantified self Bodily decodification Urban decodification Planetary decodification Notes

11 Ethic 5: Slowness Happiness Slow media Slow fashion The power of the present Notes

12 Ethic 6: Failure Mind the gap Queering success Failure loves company The failed state Notes

13 Ethic 7: Love Notes

14 Conclusion: The State of the Commons — Happy New Year! — An ethical summary Notes

15 Index

16 End User License Agreement

1 Cover

2 Table of Contents

3 Endorsement

4 Title Page

5 Copyright

6 Acknowledgments

7 Introduction

8 Begin Reading

9 Conclusion: The State of the Commons

10 Index

11 End User License Agreement

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‘ Seven Ethics Against Capitalism sharply reveals the multiple crises being generated by the capitalist mode of production – from climate breakdown, to inequality, to the erosion of democracy – and how impossible it would be to fix any of these problems without a radical transformation in the way we organize society. Mould convincingly argues that values such as solidarity, stewardship and radical love must be at the heart of this new vision for the world, as well as the movements aiming to bring it into being.’