Thinking about Capitalism

De: Jerry Z. Muller, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Jerry Z. Muller

In these 36 engaging lectures, Professor Muller takes you deep inside the perspectives on this most important and pervasive force. You'll gain fresh insights that will strengthen your understanding of capitalism's rich history, its fascinating proponents and opponents, and its startling impact on our world.

These lectures take you beyond economic analysis to look at how some of the greatest intellects have thought about capitalism and its moral, political, and cultural ramifications. Covering capitalism from its 17th-century beginnings to today's era of globalization, Professor Muller explores some wide-ranging questions. What effect does capitalism have on personal development? What about the seemingly unending variety of consumer goods made possible by capitalism? Do the facts support our tendency to think about capitalism as the economic system practiced in "free" countries? Or can capitalism exist in a wide variety of political systems? These are just a few of the many provocative and absorbing questions and issues you'll untangle here.

By placing capitalism in its full societal context, these lectures will enhance your ability to consider, discuss, and answer these and other critical questions - whatever your point of view. Genial and disarming, Professor Muller connects the dots from idea to idea, thinker to thinker, and helps you finally grasp the history and the concepts of this vital economic system, as well as its importance on the global economic stage and in your own life.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2008 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2008 The Great Courses

This must be mandatory reading in State schools

Students should learn about capitalism along side the socialism they are guaranteed to learn in State run echo chambers (aka "schools").
This book is an excellent source for the history of capitalism as well as feudalism, socialism, and other economic systems.

Thought Provoking

A good overview of capitalism. Foundation for further more specific studies on economic topics.

Depth, breadth, and nuance

I learned a lot from this series. I had no idea how little I knew about capitalism and I look forward to learning more. The series presents a variety of perspectives, the benefits and harms of capitalism, as well as its shortcomings and opportunities.

Putting the ball in play

I'm always worried when I pick up a title like this that it will be one-sided defense or equally one-sided attack on ... whatever the subject is, in this case, capitalism. In this course, the author/lecturer expresses the ideas of thinkers on capitalism over the past few hundred years. He takes one notion, holds it up to the light, moves it around to examine from different angles, and then picks up another, gives it the same treatment and plays it off the previous. It is filled with nuance and really opens the door for ongoing discussion.

great background

a great background in the concepts, history, problems and challenges of capitalism. does not re2a degree in economics to understand. highly recommended.