Means and Ends : The Idea of Capital in the West, 1500-1970

Capital has dominated the imagination of Western society from the Industrial Revolution. __Means and Ends__ offers the first comprehensive interpretation of the rise, evolution and crisis of this concept from the sixteenth century to the modern day. Based on a wealth of primary sources it offers an exciting study of intellectual and cultural history. The Idea Of Capital Dominated The Imagination Of Western Society Throughout The Era Of Its Greatest Economic Development, From The Industrial Revolution Up To The 1970s. Means And Ends Provides A Unique And Comprehensive Interpretation Of This Idea, Examining It Both Within And Outside A Political Economy Framework, And Tracing Its Rise And Evolution From The Sixteenth Century Through To The Modern Era. Based On A Wealth Of Primary Sources, This Is A Stimulating Work Of Cultural And Intellectual History Which Sheds New Light On One Of The Guiding Concepts Of Our Age.--book Jacket. 1 Capital As Money: The Emergence Of Modernity 8 -- Before Capitalism: The Prehistory Of A Word 10 -- Middle Ages And Renaissance 11 -- A Modern Disenchantment 13 -- Economics And Theology: The Long Sixteenth Century 17 -- The Years Of High Theory 21 -- 2 Land And Labour, 1650-1800 25 -- Money Is The Fat Of The Body-politick' 26 -- The Maieutics Of Production 27 -- Agriculture As Principle Of Wealth 29 -- The Primacy Of Nature In France 31 -- 'art' And 'industry': The Incubation Of The English Spirit 35 -- The Science Of Productivity 37 -- 3 Reproduction And Transition 40 -- One Rich Economy But With No Drive, Another Constantly On The Move: France And Britain In The Eighteenth Century 40 -- Money And The Physiocrats 45 -- A System Based On Avarices 47 -- The Job Of The Capitalist 50 -- A Eulogy Of Finance 52 -- Earnings On Capital 53 -- Progress And Poverty: British Thought At The Start Of The Industrial Revolution 54 -- A (limited) Vision Of Development 56 -- Agriculture And Manufacturing 58 -- Circulating Capital In Smith And Ricardo 61 -- 4 Industrial Maturity 65 -- A New Idea Of Capital 66 -- Technology And Accumulation 68 -- Towards Self-expansion Of The System 72 -- Ideas And Reality: A Quantitative View 80 -- The Revolt Of 1867 84 -- The Social Nature Of Capital 85 -- The Form Of Capital: A Phylogenetic Approach 87 -- The Age Of Machinery I. Manufacturing And Industry: Difference Of Kind, Not Of Degree 89 -- The Age Of Machinery Ii. The Destruction Of The Social Fabric 93 -- Primitive Accumulation 96 -- Revisions And Self-interpretations: Marx And Anglo-marxism 98 -- The Atlantic Reaction 108 -- The Economic Virtues Of Victorian Britain 109 -- The Sentimental Education Of Marshall 111 -- Accumulation Of Capital And Civil Progress 112 -- The Defence Of Capital In America 116 -- The Spectre Of Communism Takes Form 117 -- Social Darwinism And Predestination 119 -- Distribution As A Fact Of Nature: J.b. Clark 121 -- The Continent, 1870-1938 126 -- The Legacy Of The 'austrias' 128 -- German Socialism 133 -- Italy And France: An Excursus 138 -- The Return Of The Popes 143 -- The Eastern Border 146 -- Keynes And After: Crisis And Continuity 150 -- Britain's Decline And The Challenge Of Affluence 151 -- Keynes And The Great Depression: A New Economic Ethics? 153 -- The Generation Divide At Cambridge 155 -- Accumulation As A Moral Duty: Joan Robinson 158 -- Beginning And End Of A Controversy 163 -- Where Are We Heading? 167. Francesco Boldizzoni. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 170-210) And Index. Capital has dominated the imagination of Western society from the Industrial Revolution. Means and Ends offers the first comprehensive interpretation of the rise, evolution and crisis of this concept from the sixteenth century to the modern day. Based on a wealth of primary sources it offers an exciting study of intellectual and cultural history. Capital dominated the imagination of Western society in the age of greatest economic development, from the Industrial Revolution to the 1970s. Means and Ends provides for the first time a comprehensive interpretation of the rise, evolution and crisis of this concept within and outside political economy from the sixteenth century to the modern day. Based on a wealth of primary sources, it offers an exciting study of intellectual and cultural history Capital dominated the imagination of Western society in the age of greatest economic development, from the Industrial Revolution to the 1970s. "Means and ends" offers for the first time a comprehensive interpretation of the rise, evolution and crisis of this concept within and outside political economy from the sixteenth century to the modern day. Based on a wealth of primary sources it offers a study of intellectual and cultural history