Monday, December 28, 2020

890: What next....?

  Increasing individual freedom of movement in all respects, social and economic, is one of the most important motives in neoliberal thinking.

   

After World War II this has led to many changes in our way of life. To mention a few examples, in the 1950 love, marriage, sex and children was one package.

   

This package fell apart, caused by the introduction of anti-conception in the form of a simple pill.

  

It changed sexuality drastically. In ten years the number of children per couple in the Netherlands dropped from 3.04 to 1.6. Sex without love, just the pleasure, became acceptable.

  

Marriages weren't meant for eternity anymore. The divorce became a common thing, It wasn't shameful anymore.

   

In the 1950s it was common to have a lifetime job. Today we speak of flex-workers, people that are flexible in switching from job to job.

  

In those years in the Netherlands, we had a clear political landscape. Catholics, protestants, liberals and even communists had their own party in parliament.

   

Today politics has become more volatile and these monolithic parties are gone and replaced by a range of special interest parties, some left, some middle and some rightwing.

  

Today it is the most normal thing to go on vacation abroad. You should at least have been to China or Thailand or fly to Rome or Madrid for only 50 euro.

  

In less than a 50 years our way of life has changed fundamentally, mainly due to neoliberal economics and policy.

   

Proponents of renewal or modernization initially arouse a lot of enthusiasm, but later on are increasingly confronted with resistance or criticism. 

  

It seems as if the optimists first speak while the pessimists are proven right after a while. 

  

This was the case, for example, with the abandonment of traditional authority relationships: what was propagated as a liberation in the 1970s,

  

 thirty years later was regarded as a source of all kinds of derailments, disrespect for the police and other authorities, problematic youth eg. 

  

It also played a role in the introduction of the internet: what appeared to be a solution to many social problems in the nineties is now a source of malicious phenomena. 

  

This is also the case with neoliberalism. In the 1980s and 1990s, many people thought that privatizing government tasks, stimulating market forces and promoting individual self-reliance was the solution to urgent issues. 

  

Meanwhile, this neoliberal pursuit is being fiercely protested all over the world. It is always difficult to determine exactly when such a turnaround from optimism to pessimism took place. 

  

Perhaps every change has its proponents and opponents, and the West, where there is a strong belief in progress, allows advocates of change the benefit of the doubt.

  

The clearest signal of this protest against neoliberalism is probably the rise of populism in Europe and the US.

  

People are angry and thence Trump promises them to clean the swamp. In the Netherlands we now have two populist parties of which one flirts with neo-Nazi ideas.

  

Populist parties also emerged in Germany and France. They all rant at the elite, "make America great again", advocate for the restoration of national identity and for immigrants to leave the country.

   

That is where we are now.... So, what about a Merry Christmas vacation for you? I'll be back January 5, 2021, deo volente :-))


Thank you for your attention again....

   


  

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Gabriel van den Brink:"Ruw Ontwaken uit een Neoliberale Droom",, 2020

The Discussion

  

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so we are jumping from the ashes into the fire then

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): back to hitlers ideas to escape the neoliberalism?

[13:17] herman Bergson: I am not that pessimistic Bejiita

[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well thinks that the Republican party here has bcome a populist party

[13:18] herman Bergson: It has indeed Gemma

[13:18] Somedirtycat Saule: Sorry about being out of chat phase

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but we see it as well in Poland, Hungary ect

[13:18] CB Axel: The Republican party wants to go back to the days when women and minorities "knew their place."

[13:18] herman Bergson: The Reps don't even have a program anymore

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i don't call this a solution

[13:18] CB Axel: Eff that shit in my opinion.

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and a lot o their women agree

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): cary

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh

[13:18] CB Axel: Those women are saps and deserve what they get.

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but some of them want to do it in the senate

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha

[13:19] herman Bergson: Won't happen in the Netherlands, Gemma

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wont happen here either

[13:19] herman Bergson: Emancipation is a fact ehre.....

[13:19] herman Bergson: here

[13:20] herman Bergson: But the rise op populism is a signal.....

[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:20] herman Bergson: nationalism, identity policy, xenophobia.....things like that

[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I have a hard time really defining populism

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): close the borders

[13:21] herman Bergson: I just mentioned some aspects of it, Gemma :-)

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): got it

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed

[13:21] herman Bergson: nationalism is probably one of the most dangerous ones

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): worrying we go in that direction

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks so

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so odd

[13:22] herman Bergson: The belief that your nation is exceptional and thence has special rights over others

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): back to hate, racism ect But indeed that was also what Mr T represented

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah yes

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: and his list of "friends

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not to mention his attitude toward women (Grab em by the....)

[13:23] Somedirtycat Saule: Wait. What about that the nation right here have special rights over itself?

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): do we really want a such society

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i say no

[13:23] herman Bergson: What annoys me so often is that they refer to the president of the US as the mightiest man on earth....

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there have to be some better way out

[13:23] herman Bergson: He isn't

[13:24] CB Axel: That bothers me, too, Herman.

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): uuuugh yes at least many do

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): when in reality he is a blabbering muppet

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): knowing nothing but to gain himself

[13:24] Laila Schuman: in charge of puppets

[13:24] CB Axel: Well, he does have the most bombs. I guess that makes him the most powerful.

[13:24] Somedirtycat Saule: Are you still arguing over that President?

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he is to dumb to know how to fire them off (i hope)

[13:25] herman Bergson: apart from that...the term shows the belief that the US is THE nation....

[13:25] Somedirtycat Saule: *Tweet President

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeeed

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hopes someone kept track of all those tweets

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and he turned twitter into a sewer of lies

[13:25] herman Bergson: What do you mean Somedirtycat?

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): a book in themselves

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not gonna read that (shudders)

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): new psychological study

[13:26] Somedirtycat Saule: Trump is Tweeting crap. but he didn't start any wars.

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): study

[13:26] herman Bergson: I think they are collected somewhere Gemma....There was even a book of Trump Tweets as far as I know,,,some years ago

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we cant be too sure of that bunny

[13:27] herman Bergson: That to my greatest relief, Some

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it may fall over into the new administration

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed and thats at least a good thing because i was afraid that WW# would start the moment he won

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): WW3

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): luckily we got no wars

[13:27] Somedirtycat Saule: Ok. Hi murdered that iranian guy so it was close...

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think at this time covid has put a li on that

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmmm aaaa yes

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for a while

[13:27] CB Axel: I think his military leaders have held him back.

[13:27] CB Axel: Yes, Covid, too.

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): me too

[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he murdeed almost 300.000 Americans

[13:28] herman Bergson: That was my hope too, CB

[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): partly true

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i saw some cartoon a while ago abouut Trump constantly trying to snatch the red button from Secret Service guys so he could fire some nukes

[13:29] Somedirtycat Saule: I'm so bored about Trump centered 'Philosophical' discussions in SL. Let's talk about Hitler cops instead.

[13:29] herman Bergson: So, Trump can be seen as the result of the protest against neoliberalism and the urge to change and innovation...

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case we have to find a better way out of neoliberalism and constant growth

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and populism is NOT the way to go

[13:30] herman Bergson: Populism is the reaction to it Bejiita....

[13:30] CB Axel: "Hitler cops" are the result of people who think like Trump. So it's relevant.

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly it seems so

[13:30] herman Bergson: the drive to return to the good old times

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): replacing greed with hate and xenophobia

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i thought that this morning

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just as bad if not worse

[13:31] Dien (djdien.bailey) is offline.

[13:31] CB Axel: Herman, those "good ole times" were only good for white men.

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hate doesn't solve anything

[13:31] herman Bergson: Oh yes, CB

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed Beertje

[13:31] Laila Schuman: read the book... CASTES

[13:31] herman Bergson: I guess neoliberalism is all white men driven....:-)

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh heard of that layla

[13:31] Laila Schuman: or something like that

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well that i guess is 100% true

[13:32] Laila Schuman: it is very long.... could be a course in Black Studies/history

[13:32] Somedirtycat Saule: Cops are about repression. Is repression necessary. Better discussion out of a Liberalism, or whatever viewpoint.

[13:32] Laila Schuman: college level

[13:32] herman Bergson: This cops issue.....

[13:32] herman Bergson: Let's talk about it for a moment....

[13:32] Somedirtycat Saule: Trump is gutter level

[13:32] Laila Schuman: maybe you needed to hear the report.... and what was being promoted... and HOW

[13:32] herman Bergson: From a Dutch point of view....

[13:33] herman Bergson: I look with amazement at how US cops behave....

[13:33] herman Bergson: unbelievable

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i am afraid of thing they need is more training

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ongoing

[13:33] herman Bergson: so trigger happy as they are

[13:33] Somedirtycat Saule: good lets analyse this

[13:34] Laila Schuman: it was definitely a period piece..... like when they would hang Black people... MANY PEOPLE would watch, take picture and send postcards of the scene

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and college degrees before hire

[13:34] Somedirtycat Saule: Why are cops in US triggerhappy?

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hm

[13:34] CB Axel: No, Gemma. We need a whole new attitude toward crime.

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): US cops i believe are trained with Hollywood movies

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): America started out gun happy

[13:34] herman Bergson: I have no idea...but it seems they always shoot to kill...not one bulit but 14....please

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): from the very beginning

[13:34] Somedirtycat Saule: Criminals have guns

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just like in the movies yes

[13:35] Laila Schuman: The Nazies learned how to do things by studying the events in the South

[13:35] herman Bergson: Cops too

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): CHAAAAAAARGGHE RATATATATATATATATATTATATATATATATATA BOOOOM BOOOOOOM!

[13:35] CB Axel: The Conservatives think that criminals need to be punished. Left-wingers prefer they be rehabilitated.

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sigh

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its sad

[13:35] Somedirtycat Saule: If a criminal reach for a gun the cop must shot him before the criminal shot the cop

[13:35] CB Axel: Keeping people in prison is a waste of money. They need to be rehabilitated and returned to society and the workplace.

[13:36] Somedirtycat Saule: Before is the word

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but they only shoot black people

[13:36] herman Bergson: If a Dutch police officer behaved like an American one he would lose his job in no time

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): = racists

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): read many such stories before

[13:36] Somedirtycat Saule: They work as cops. Should not be killed at work

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): another change from those who are in so much support of life.. after 17 years they have started doing executions of convicts ith death sentance

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): how if ur black to the cops ur automatically murderer/drig dealer ect

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): go figure

[13:37] CB Axel: I do have some empathy for the police. They just want to do their job and go home to their families.

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they work as killers, not cops

[13:37] Laila Schuman: not all cops are bad... I know one in Chicago who would throw up in the morning before he left the house.... Englewood is not a good place to be in... let alone as a cop

[13:37] CB Axel: But in a country where any dumb ass can be carrying a semi-automatic weapon, police are understandably nervous.

[13:37] Somedirtycat Saule: No cop should be shot at or killed. Period.

[13:37] herman Bergson: I am sure that is what they want, CB, alive every day

[13:38] Laila Schuman: his cop groomsmen gave him a bulit proof vest as a wedding present

[13:38] CB Axel: But the ones carrying those guns aren't the black men and boys just hanging out or shopping. It's the white nationalists.

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if they only wanna do their job then why do they seem to think its all a big Hollywood film everything. They want action and use it totally responsivelessly

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i saw that on tv Laila

[13:38] Somedirtycat Saule: So what to do about a situation when a suspect reach for something when the cop told him to be still?

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): reality is not a movie!

[13:38] herman Bergson: SHoot him in the leg, Some

[13:39] Laila Schuman: CB... you are right about them being white nationalists

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: like a sandwich?

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why are the Americans allowed to have a gun anyway?

[13:39] herman Bergson: Not stuffing him with ten bulits

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or a cell phone?

[13:39] Somedirtycat Saule: No time Herman

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): constitution beertje

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is in there

[13:39] herman Bergson: Second Amendment!

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but misinterpreted

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's insane

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): welll armed militia was like a protective army back then

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: now??

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nope

[13:40] herman Bergson: There is no country in this world with so many private guns around as in the US.....amazing

[13:40] Somedirtycat Saule: To survive a cop must shot even before the criminal showed his gun, when he reach for it and disobey the order to be still

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): individual right

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:40] CB Axel: Too many people on the right seem to want to go back to the days of the wild west where everyone was armed and one shot first and asked questions later.

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its crazy indeed

[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are you a cop Some?

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:41] herman Bergson: Looks like it indeed

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): esp the hillbillies that shoot a hail swarm through your head if u get more then 1 km from their house

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice neighbors anyone?

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice

[13:41] herman Bergson: I would be scared as a cop in the US when stopping a person.....keep my gun ready

[13:41] Somedirtycat Saule: No but there are videos that show exactly the reaction times needed for a cop to survive a gun fight

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): have you been watching those a lot?

[13:42] Somedirtycat Saule: Enough

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sad

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): weapons solve nothing

[13:42] Somedirtycat Saule: You should look at them too as they explain things

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i don't need to

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): rather the opposite

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): violence feed violence

[13:43] Laila Schuman: NOTE... not all police were trained with bad quotes... that was supposedy an isolated incicent

[13:43] CB Axel: It doesn't explain why they shoot people multiple times in the back.

[13:43] Somedirtycat Saule: Why cops kill unarmed persons that dont follow order to be still

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): omg..

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): reaching for my hanky can kill me?

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:43] Laila Schuman: maybe the cops are scared ... they see a lOT

[13:43] Laila Schuman: LOT

[13:43] herman Bergson: I htink they are scared

[13:43] CB Axel: Not you, Beerje. Black men and boys have to worry.

[13:44] Somedirtycat Saule: Look. A cop want to survive.

[13:44] Laila Schuman: they know they have a target on their back

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): how do you know i'm not black?

[13:44] herman Bergson: Right Some

[13:44] CB Axel: I don't. I also don't know that you're a woman. :)

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ãƒ„

[13:44] CB Axel: But the cops aren't killing the ones who are the most heavily armed.

[13:44] herman Bergson: Well...som much about US cops....

[13:45] herman Bergson: People in constant fear of arms in the hands of people the stop and question

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): are you going to the island Herman?

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case its crazy

[13:45] Somedirtycat Saule: Otherwise I don't like cops but I don't like bloodthirsty Woke people better

[13:45] herman Bergson: No....still in covid isolation here....

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa oki

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok here too of course

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed some

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but some idiots don't care

[13:46] herman Bergson: We try to stay as safe as possible....

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good

[13:46] herman Bergson: Here we have the same problem, Gemma

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some just HAVE ot go home or somewhere

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for the holidays

[13:46] herman Bergson: Infection numbers rising...people begin to ignore the safety rules

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so 3000  deaths yesterday

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and running near that so far today

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): OOOOOW :(

[13:47] CB Axel: We should be seeing a spike in cases here now as a result of Thanksgiving gatherings.

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 1934 sofar today

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep

[13:47] herman Bergson: The Holidays will become a problem here too, I am afraid

[13:48] CB Axel nods

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the white house is hosting parties

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): great example

[13:48] Laila Schuman: gtttt

[13:48] herman Bergson: WH ignores all reality

[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i will not go there

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): tssssss

[13:48] Laila Schuman: grrrrr

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seems so inded

[13:48] herman Bergson: T`ime for a break...a nice holidays....

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): you too

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and everyone

[13:49] CB Axel: Since I'll never be invited to a Republican White House party, I don't care what they do. :)

[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ãƒ„

[13:49] herman Bergson: It is almost the end of the so many years here in class....

[13:49] herman Bergson: An amazing achievement

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well they will carry it along and maybe pass you on the street someday cb

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least we have keept a close monitor on all the chaos going on

[13:50] CB Axel: Not if I see them first, Gemma.

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): now hope it will turn around fast

[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol cb

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to the good

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:50] herman Bergson: I wish you all happy holidays....and hope to see you again in the New YEar...:-)

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Happy Holidays yes

[13:50] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...

[13:50] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman. I hope you all have a nice holiday.

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yaya aa have a nice Christmas and new year

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 

[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman en fijne feestdagen

[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bye for now

[3:51] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you herman and class:-)


889: Some critical comments....

 What we call today neoliberalism has deep roots in history, as we have seen. There has been this remarkable pursuit of individuality since the 15th century in Europe.

  

This is the result of many social and complex developments and when we look at our current neoliberalism, it is not just the result of party political preferences.

  

Thinking in terms of increasing individual freedom and autonomy opens the door to individual competition as part of social life,

  

 sociologically to thinking in terms of market and market forces as the structuring principle of society. Where did the current trend come from?

  

I think first of all of the process of cultural change that started in the West from the 1960s onwards. The revolt of students, young people, artists, and other "minorities" 

  

that began at that time was emphatically against any form of authority, especially when police officers, mayors, and other government officials embodied that authority. 

  

Instead, many pursued greater individual freedom of movement and maximum self-development. In the 1970s, this led to a pluriformity of lifestyles, to which companies could respond quite easily. 

  

In any case, I believe that the rise of market thinking in the 1980s was stimulated by an increasing proportion of the population embracing the ideal of individual autonomy. 

  

Market thinking was then given an extra boost by the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the disappearance of the Soviet Union a little later. 

  

The long-standing process of globalization, strongly stimulated by the developing information technology, entered a new phase from the 1990s.

  

This development is an apparently unstoppable rolling process. You see it happen in new economies like China, Brazil, Indonesia.

   

It is a peculiar mixture of liberal thinking and illiberal thinking. I mean this: on the one hand there is a strongly market-oriented society in which individual freedom plays the leading role, 

  

but on the other hand there is an equally drastic government, rather illiberal, that mainly stimulates markets and competition.

  

Really hot and I have experienced it myself during my time as a teacher, was NPM, New Public Management.

  

It was a collection of approaches that were developed during the 1980s as part of an effort to make the public service more "businesslike" and to improve its efficiency by using private sector management models.

  

I can tell you, it meant the end of social solidarity and the welfare state. The policy became privatization, deregulation or constant austerity, where today the pandemic painfully exposes the negative results of.

  

Another clear criticism is that the ruling class has succeeded in increasing the accumulation of capital on an unprecedented scale. 

  

All barriers that could hinder or slow down the free movement of capital flows, such as legislation, tax rules, trade unions, forms of solidarity, etc., were removed, 

  

with the result that shareholders, companies, and financial institutions all over the world had got unprecedented power. 

  

Seen from the ruling class, the neoliberal project was thus a great success. But things look different for employees. 

  

For example, rising productivity and real wages in the US and in Europe too kept pace until 1975, but later diverged further and further. 

  

While productivity has nearly doubled since then, real wages have declined. The main achievement of the neoliberal regime is not so much the production of new wealth, but its extremely skewed distribution of wealth.

   

We only have to mention here "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" (2013)  by French economist Thomas Piketty, who exposes this situation.

   

Thank you for your attention again....




MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Gabriel van den Brink:"Ruw Ontwaken uit een Neoliberale Droom",, 2020



The Discussion


[13:17] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (sings ABBA) THE BOSSES TAKE IT ALL! THE WORKERS HAVE TO FALL!

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:18] herman Bergson: Where will this development lead to.....the rich getting richer only?

[13:19] herman Bergson: That songtext is not some phantasy indeed Bejiita

[13:19] CB Axel: It's a stupid system. If you produce a product or service, who will you sell it to if 95% of the population has no money.

[13:20] Laila Schuman: factor in... climate change... it is going to make a big difference.... if we don't get busy

[13:20] CB Axel: I suppose they think that the market will even itself out, but his hasn't yet.

[13:20] herman Bergson: The population has money, but not in relation to the wealth they produce as workers

[13:20] CB Axel: True

[13:20] Laila Schuman: and they will have less when it is every man for himself via. climate change

[13:21] herman Bergson: But on the other hand...more money means more consumption...is that what we want?

[13:21] Laila Schuman: we have been led into that assumption

[13:21] CB Axel: The rich will be able to protect themselves from climate change a lot longer than the poorer people will.

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): funny how the idea leading to this misery have the same name as a code system i currently work with NPM = Node Package Manager

[13:21] Laila Schuman: when you don't have food... you have different thoughts

[13:21] herman Bergson: More consumption means more production.....and so on

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i prefer that one though

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed but only the already rich gets anything from it

[13:22] Laila Schuman: did not mention higher wages

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the company owners

[13:22] herman Bergson: I really wonder...where does it lead to?

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and the stock market fill of already icky rick costume clowns

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): rich

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed, no good development

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:23] herman Bergson: The basic belief of neoliberalism is markets...production and consumerism....

[13:23] Ludo (quippe.wylder): More money for those who  don't have it now and less for the superrich means more consumption of necessities and less conspicuous consumption, I hope

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): everyone should have a share at least

[13:24] Laila Schuman: the wars will be over food and trying to stay alive...... in overpopulation...

[13:24] Laila Schuman: consumption will be a dream... not for those in the middle or bottom

[13:24] herman Bergson: The wars will be about fresh water too Laila

[13:24] Laila Schuman: absolutely

[13:25] Laila Schuman: California has already asked Chicago if they could dig some kind of pipeline or canal or ??? to take water from lake Michigan to California

[13:25] Laila Schuman: Chicago sad no

[13:26] herman Bergson: There it begins

[13:26] CB Axel: California should stop wasting water on golf courses and theme parks.

[13:26] Laila Schuman: and the aqua-fur in the Midwest is getting drained by irrigation... and not replenishing

[13:26] Laila Schuman: and growing grass in the dessert

[13:27] CB Axel: Yes

[13:27] herman Bergson: I am thinking about shifting the focus of the current project from neoliberalism sec to  this neolib pursuit of constant economic growth....

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well thats what its main goal is for sure

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): MORE MORE MORE!

[13:28] herman Bergson: yes....but when you think it over....

[13:28] Laila Schuman: would be very interested in that

[13:28] Ludo (quippe.wylder): What's the solution

[13:28] herman Bergson: this unlimited growth......Cant be true

[13:28] herman Bergson: There are solutions Ludo....

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it will fall like a card house in the end

[13:28] herman Bergson: a circular economy for instance

[13:29] herman Bergson: produce what you need

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well the card house has already fallen several times

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but still they push on

[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): who will decide what we need?

[13:29] theo Velde is online.

[13:29] Laila Schuman: people who write commercials

[13:29] herman Bergson: In a democracy we have a system for that Beertje

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the commercial makers and marketeers screaming BUY! BUY! BUY!

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): BUY EVERYTHING U DONT NEED

[13:30] herman Bergson: At least ...we don't need a new model iPhone every year for instance

[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i mean really need...

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true

[13:30] herman Bergson: or new models of cars

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats crazy

[13:30] Laila Schuman: electric cars and hybreds

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but its status too

[13:31] herman Bergson: What we really need is safety, security, food on the table and a house to live in

[13:31] CB Axel: Education that emphasizes critical thinking would help.

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): LOOK HOW RICH AND IMPORTAND I AM I HAVE THE LATEST IPHONE U SUCKERS; NOW IM GONNA POST A MILLION SELFIES ON INSTAGRAM THIHIHI!

[13:31] herman Bergson: from there we can work on...medical care, education....art

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like that!

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): UUUUUGHH

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)

[13:31] CB Axel: People need to think about what they really need. What's really important.

[13:31] CB Axel: don't just listen to the marketers.

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sure i use devices like this but i dont need to get every new model out there

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as long my phones and computers do what i want and work i keep them

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and that they do for many years

[13:32] CB Axel: I drove my last car for 21 years. It ran. I had no need for a new one.

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:33] herman Bergson: Yes Bejiita but  then they change the operation system and your devices begin to malfuction....not able to deal with new apps for instance

[13:33] Laila Schuman: designed obsolescene

[13:33] CB Axel: Then is started making some alarming and expensive sounding noises.

[13:33] herman Bergson: My car is more than ten years old now.....and I do not need a new one

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well thats a sad truth also that they stop sent updates out and the cheaper the phone the less upgrades it get so u have to get a new one for every upgrade almost

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats also crazy,

[13:34] herman Bergson: right, Bejiita

[13:34] CB Axel: That's business, Bejiita.

[13:34] herman Bergson: it looks like an unstoppable train....rolling on and on

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): instead of using a standard Android, like u do with Linux

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cause android is after all a Linux system

[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what about cloths? is there anyone that repairs cloths these days?

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there are

[13:35] herman Bergson: Yes Beertje....:-)

[13:35] Laila Schuman: buy mine at the used clothing stores

[13:35] herman Bergson: I had several pants repaired at the Golden Sissors :-)

[13:35] CB Axel: Some. But I wanted to get a pair of boots fixed and no one could do it.

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :))) good

[13:35] CB Axel: The soles were glued on, and they couldn't be glued back.

[13:35] herman Bergson: Got two repairshops for clothes here in the village!

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at city here they have done a kind thing where people having extra jackets over can leave any they dont need and others in need of one can then pick up there

[13:36] CB Axel: The boots were made so that they could not be repaired.

[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): de gouden Schaar is geweldig

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they call it wall of kindness

[13:36] herman Bergson: Yes CB...that is such another issue with current products

[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): made to be thouwed asway

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): buy new buy new buy new!

[13:37] CB Axel: Like cars. You can't work on your own car any more. You need specialized equipment.

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): throw out! throw out! throw out!

[13:37] Laila Schuman: planned obsolesence

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:37] herman Bergson: As you see....we all seem to be some kind of prisoners of the system.....

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all while the trash mountains grow in the seas :(

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): from all our waste

[13:38] Laila Schuman: and kill the fish

[13:38] Ludo (quippe.wylder): Perhaps hubby and I less than some. We were born during a war after a depression and we still "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."

[13:38] herman Bergson: Another reason to question this belief in growth of the economy....as if there is no alternative

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): choking on plastic bags and iphone cases

[13:39] herman Bergson: Yes Ludo, I was educated accordingly :-)

[13:39] Ludo (quippe.wylder): Our car is 17 years old.

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes me too Ludo

[13:39] Laila Schuman: same here

[13:39] herman Bergson: Whatever it is, I first try to repair it

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): use things as long they work properly

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if the manufacturers make them so, after all today things are made to break

[13:40] Ludo (quippe.wylder): but ost of what we're using wasn't made today.

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not even the tool brand Makita is any better today, their machines used to last forever

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a while ago 2 all new angle grinders burned up/shorted out after just about a wek of not at all heavy use

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i just Makita! what happened!?

[13:41] Ludo (quippe.wylder): The thing is, how does one convince people that they can live the way we do. We have no status.

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): quality have fallen in general on stuff

[13:41] herman Bergson: Yes Ludo, it may be easy to identify the problem.....but almost impossible to get to a solution, it seems

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's not important for me to have status, just living is enough

[13:42] Laila Schuman: health

[13:43] Ludo (quippe.wylder): Convince someone with status that he bought to give it up. Coinvince starlets that they don't need thousand dollar outfits they will wear once.

[13:43] herman Bergson: right....Laila...the main thing that counts

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmmm

[13:44] herman Bergson: What we observe here is not just some issue....it is a wide and complex all covering system......

[13:44] herman Bergson: as an individual you are rather powerless

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but today everything seems to be about boasting yourself to everyone. Mr T is driving that culture like noone

[13:45] Ludo (quippe.wylder): And we can't blame it on the superrich, we all buy into this system

[13:45] Laila Schuman: if we don't handle climate change then none of it will matter

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): how much better u are then others and so

[13:45] herman Bergson: That is why we have GreenPeace, Amnesty international, the UN, etc.

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): because ur rick and have tons of expensive stuff

[13:45] Laila Schuman: and scott pruit

[13:45] Ludo (quippe.wylder): Thank God there are counter influences.

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa yes

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and I hope they succeed soon

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this tide have to turn

[13:46] herman Bergson: The tide will turn Bejiita....

[13:46] Laila Schuman: it has.... trump made it turn

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the tidal wave of money and status boasting

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i hope so indeed Herman

[13:47] herman Bergson: Just look at history, Bejiita

[13:47] Laila Schuman: I was being snarly when i mentioned Scott Pruitt

[13:47] herman Bergson: Homo Sapiens always has found a way out ^_^

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:47] CB Axel: I hope Trump gets thrown in jail so others can see where his life style got him.

[13:47] CB Axel: But I doubt he will be.

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:47] Ludo (quippe.wylder): And then repeated the same mistakes, herman

[13:48] herman Bergson: Yhat would be very educational indeed CB

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i guess thats why he do all he can to stay as president because he KNOW he will go to jail

[13:48] herman Bergson: I disagree Ludo....

[13:48] Ludo (quippe.wylder): Good. I'd like to think we make different mistakes.

[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): every generations has his own mistakes

[13:49] herman Bergson: That's better ^_^

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump should have been at bottom of marianers trench 20 years ago though

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): always been like thiis as i get it

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a boasting bluffer

[13:49] CB Axel: America doesn't punish white collar crime.

[13:49] theo Velde is offline.

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess not

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:50] herman Bergson: Since we have arrived at Mr. T. again...it may be better to close our debate unless you have that single one super remark or question ^_^

[13:50] CB Axel: We just keep letting them get away with it. People think they'll have learned their lessons, but they never do. They just get bolder.

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed CB

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): shall :)we plupp on that?

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:50] herman Bergson: Well....we'll see, CB....I still have hope

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa indeed

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): something must change soon

[13:51] herman Bergson: Thank you all again for your participation....

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and I think it might start now with Biden

[13:51] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman.

[13:51] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): among othere things

[13:51] herman Bergson: Dragon extinguished :-)

[13:51] CB Axel: Bye, everyone. I'll see you Thursday. :)

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bye CB

[13:52] herman Bergson: Bye CB