Open Collections

Henning, Nils

University of British Columbia

This thesis explores to what extent neoliberal capitalism tends to be Life-affirming and Life-denying. A philosophical interpretation of Life and an ethical framework, the Ethics of Life-Affirmation, were developed to analyze neoliberal capitalism's underlying assumptions. The aim was to see if neoliberal capitalism fosters Life-affirming social structures that encourage humans to affirm Life. Grounded in Hans Jonas' existential-phenomenological and Indigenous relational ontology, Life embodies an inner horizon, a fundamental will to live, the interconnectedness of all living beings, and is inherently dynamic. The Ethics of Life-Affirmation guides actions to protect and preserve Life while promoting its freedoms and fulfilling its necessities. Tracing neoliberal capitalism from John Locke to Milton Friedman, the study highlights the shift from classical liberalism to neoliberalism, prioritizing economic freedom and wealth accumulation. Using the Ethics of Life-Affirmation as an analytical framework, the thesis finds significant differences between Life-affirming principles and neoliberal capitalism. Neoliberalism's focus on wealth accumulation and economic freedom contrasts with Life-affirmation's emphasis on preserving and expressing Life. The commodification of natural elements and labor, combined with profit maximization, risks overexploitation and social inequality. The pursuit of wealth accumulation may not necessarily lead to happiness or responsible action towards future generations. Ultimately, it is questionable that the self-interested pursuit of wealth accumulation fosters behavior that protects and preserves the collective living body while promoting its freedoms and fulfilling its necessities. The thesis suggests exploring alternative economic theories, like ecological and circular economies, to promote sustainable and Life-affirming practices. Future research will further explore these alternatives.

Text

2024-09-04

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89166

Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/