Sistema político-econômico capitalista

Summary

In this class, we explore the capitalist political and economic system, focusing on its main goal of profit accumulation and private property protection. Capitalism is marked by a division between employers (capitalists) and free workers, with the economy driven by the laws of supply and demand. The script outlines capitalism's evolution through four phases: commercial, industrial, financial, and technical-scientific/informational. It highlights key changes like the shift from manual to mechanical labor, the rise of industrialization, the importance of scientific knowledge, and the growth of new industries like biotechnology and information technology in the modern era.

Takeaways

• 😀 Capitalism is an economic system where the primary goal is profit generation and the protection of private property.
• 😀 The capitalist system creates a division in society, with workers selling their labor for a low salary and employers aiming for profit.
• 😀 The capitalist system operates on a free market with minimal government interference, driven by the laws of supply and demand.
• 😀 Capitalism has evolved through several stages: commercial capitalism, industrial capitalism, financial capitalism, and technical-scientific/informational capitalism.
• 😀 Commercial capitalism, beginning in the 15th century, was marked by the exchange of goods between colonies and metropolises, with mercantilism as the dominant economic doctrine.
• 😀 Industrial capitalism emerged in the 18th century with the Industrial Revolution, leading to mechanized labor and urbanization.
• 😀 Economic liberalism, which advocates for minimal government involvement in the economy, became prevalent during industrial capitalism.
• 😀 The financial capitalism phase was characterized by the growing dominance of financial power, integrating research centers with industries.
• 😀 The technical-scientific and informational capitalism, starting post-World War II, relies heavily on technological advancements and interdependence between science and production.
• 😀 Informational capitalism, the current phase, includes industries such as information technology, telecommunications, and biotechnology, with a strong reliance on digital technologies like computers and the internet.
• 😀 Throughout all phases of capitalism, there has been an increasing emphasis on profit, technology, and the global division of labor.

Q & A

What is capitalism?

Capitalism is an economic system where the main objective is to obtain profit and protect private property. It involves the accumulation of capital by both governments and individuals, often represented in the form of goods and money.

How does capitalism affect the division of society?

Capitalism divides society into two main classes: free workers, who sell their labor for a salary, and employers (capitalists), who own the means of production and hire workers to produce goods or services.

What is the role of the employer in capitalism?

The employer, or capitalist, owns the means of production and hires workers to produce goods or services. The primary goal of the employer is to make a profit by selling products in the consumer market.

How does the free market work in capitalism?

In a capitalist system, the free market operates with minimal state interference. Products are bought and sold based on supply and demand, meaning the quantity of goods produced and consumer demand determine pricing and availability.

What is an example used to explain the capitalist system in the transcript?

An example used is the automobile industry, where employers (capitalists) own the means of production and hire workers. After the cars are sold, the capitalists earn a profit, which is partly reinvested into the business and partly allocated to taxes and wages.

What are the three main periods of capitalism mentioned in the script?

The three main periods of capitalism mentioned are: commercial capitalism, industrial capitalism, and financial capitalism. A later phase, technical-scientific and informational capitalism, is also discussed.

What is commercial capitalism?

Commercial capitalism began in the 15th century and was based on commercial exchanges between countries. It involved European maritime expansion and the formation of colonies, which exported raw materials while the metropolises produced goods. This system was part of mercantilism.

How did the Industrial Revolution change capitalism?

The Industrial Revolution marked the transition from commercial capitalism to industrial capitalism. It led to a shift from manual labor to mechanical labor, the development of the factory system, and the mass production of goods.

What is financial capitalism?

Financial capitalism emerged in the 19th century, with significant industrial and technological advancements. It shifted the focus from industrial power to financial power, integrating research centers with factories and leading to the second industrial revolution.

What defines technical-scientific and informational capitalism?

Technical-scientific and informational capitalism, which began in the mid-20th century, is characterized by the close relationship between scientific research and industrial development. It is marked by advances in high-tech industries such as electronics, robotics, and biotechnology, and is closely linked to the information society through computers, smartphones, and the internet.