Capatilism

Kant’s advocacy for enlightenment argued for a critical ideal for the individual (to think and speak for themselves). This ideal was then argued to entail a notion of human dignity/rights that should be respected in (civil) society by government, and offer a hope for human progress in culture and (legal) relations.

First, discuss how Marx is presenting an analysis of the economic relations of capitalism such that our property and work relations are viewed as counter our human dignity (and thus anti-enlightenment), so human “progress” is also viewed as requiring something more than critical thinking, a (protected) public space to voice our opinions, and law through representation.

Second, choose and discuss 2 or 3 “dimensions” of Charles Mills’s analysis of white supremacy, showing that his critique is not so much about questioning liberal rights (to free speech, property, representation, etc.), but about how racism divides the human community (and creates conflicts of interest between communities).