Single Idea 21994

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism]

Full Idea

The handmill gives you society with the feudal lord; the steam mill society with the industrial capitalist.

Gist of Idea

The handmill gives feudalism, the steam mill capitalism

Source

Karl Marx (The Poverty of Philosophy [1847], p.202), quoted by Peter Singer - Marx 7

Book Reference

Singer,Peter: 'Marx' [OUP 1996], p.36


A Reaction

If technology dictates social structure, then feudalism is still with us, in low-tech industries. What if the steam mill had been invented in 1300?