Episode
#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
2:59:18
Published: Fri Jun 17 2022
Description
Richard Wolff is a Marxist philosopher and economist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Skiff: https://skiff.org/lex to get early access - Indeed: https://indeed.com/lex to get $75 credit - Onnit: https://lexfridman.com/onnit to get up to 10% off - Blinkist: https://blinkist.com/lex and use code LEX to get 25% off premium - Linode: https://linode.com/lex to get $100 free credit EPISODE LINKS: Richard's Twitter: https://twitter.com/profwolff Richard's Website: https://www.rdwolff.com Contending Economic Theories (book): https://amzn.to/3HykPwT Understanding Marxism (book): https://amzn.to/39qpm8b Understanding Socialism (book): https://amzn.to/3Og9XG3 PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: - Check out the sponsors above, it's the best way to support this podcast - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman - Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman - Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here's the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) - Introduction (07:12) - Marxism (15:41) - Communism (50:47) - Human nature (1:03:03) - Economics (1:09:54) - Capitalism (1:42:18) - Governments and corporations (1:53:13) - Stalinism (2:07:12) - Nazis (2:14:08) - Socialism vs Marxism (2:21:48) - Bernie Sanders and AOC (2:38:49) - Cultural Marxism (2:45:49) - Darkest moments (2:51:18) - Advice for young people (2:53:37) - Mortality (2:57:28) - Meaning of life
Chapters
In this podcast, Richard Wolff, a top Marxist economist and philosopher, discusses the importance of studying Marxist ideas and their implementations throughout history.
00:00 - 01:18 (01:18)
Summary
In this podcast, Richard Wolff, a top Marxist economist and philosopher, discusses the importance of studying Marxist ideas and their implementations throughout history. He emphasizes the need to challenge dogmatic beliefs and consider demonized ideas.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The speaker admits to using boosts for especially difficult deep work sessions that requires long hours of thinking.
01:18 - 06:44 (05:25)
Summary
The speaker admits to using boosts for especially difficult deep work sessions that requires long hours of thinking. An advertisement for Indeed.com's virtual interviews is also mentioned.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
This podcast discusses what the philosopher, Karl Marx, would say about the different implementations of his ideas throughout the 20th century, and how much of Marxism remains as a critique of capitalism, while another part becomes a set of notions for an alternative post-capitalist society.
06:45 - 16:15 (09:29)
Summary
This podcast discusses what the philosopher, Karl Marx, would say about the different implementations of his ideas throughout the 20th century, and how much of Marxism remains as a critique of capitalism, while another part becomes a set of notions for an alternative post-capitalist society.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Richard Wolff explains the misconceptions of Marxism, particularly in the United States, where it is often associated with old Soviet Marxism.
16:15 - 24:15 (08:00)
Summary
Richard Wolff explains the misconceptions of Marxism, particularly in the United States, where it is often associated with old Soviet Marxism. Marxism has many unique elements to its implementation in the real world, including the size and control of the party in charge.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The rise of universal suffrage and elected representatives during the French-American revolution is what gave way for the working class to believe that the state is the ultimate guarantor of capitalism.
24:15 - 30:20 (06:04)
Summary
The rise of universal suffrage and elected representatives during the French-American revolution is what gave way for the working class to believe that the state is the ultimate guarantor of capitalism. By the last third of Karl Marx's life, he was among other producers of an anti-capitalist movement that included anarchists like Proudhon in France and Kropotkin and Bakunin in Russia.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Socialism becomes a reality when the working class captures the state, and uses its power to transition from capitalism to a better political and economic system.
30:20 - 38:47 (08:27)
Summary
Socialism becomes a reality when the working class captures the state, and uses its power to transition from capitalism to a better political and economic system. Despite different misconceptions, the socialist reform achieved significant successes in the U.S. during the 1930s, including the establishment of social security.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Paul Samuelson's textbook, once considered the canonical book in economics, is no longer the only one.
38:47 - 44:32 (05:45)
Summary
Paul Samuelson's textbook, once considered the canonical book in economics, is no longer the only one. Furthermore, in every society, the majority of healthy adults have to work and produce more than they consume, as Marx argues.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The meaning of property boils down to who gets to decide and who is excluded, leading to exploitative class structures that produce a surplus for one group and creates hostility, enmity, envy, anger, resentment, and all of the problems that come with class struggle.
44:32 - 48:34 (04:02)
Summary
The meaning of property boils down to who gets to decide and who is excluded, leading to exploitative class structures that produce a surplus for one group and creates hostility, enmity, envy, anger, resentment, and all of the problems that come with class struggle.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Economist Richard Wolff explains that capitalism, as a system, has been represented by capitalists who have fought every effort to improve the lives of the mass of workers.
48:34 - 2:00:35 (1:12:00)
Summary
Economist Richard Wolff explains that capitalism, as a system, has been represented by capitalists who have fought every effort to improve the lives of the mass of workers. Wolff argues that the workplace is the most undemocratic arrangement imaginable, with a tiny group of people controlling economically a vast mass of employees, who have no voice or accountability.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The implementation of Marxism, with its idealistic focus on the working class, can naturally lead to the formation of a dictatorial force.
2:00:35 - 2:05:57 (05:22)
Summary
The implementation of Marxism, with its idealistic focus on the working class, can naturally lead to the formation of a dictatorial force. Additionally, human nature tends to abuse power, so whenever there is a concentration of power, trouble is inevitable.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast explores the extent to which Marx's ideas led to the formation of the National Socialist German Workers' Party in the 1930s and whether the party's ideology can be considered socialist.
2:05:57 - 2:09:41 (03:43)
Summary
The podcast explores the extent to which Marx's ideas led to the formation of the National Socialist German Workers' Party in the 1930s and whether the party's ideology can be considered socialist. The episode also discusses the role of government intervention in the economy under Nazi rule.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The podcast discusses the differences between Marxism, socialism, and democratic socialism.
2:09:41 - 2:17:16 (07:34)
Summary
The podcast discusses the differences between Marxism, socialism, and democratic socialism. It emphasizes on how these ideologies have developed and evolved over time and how they differ from one another.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The development of a powerful central state towards the end of feudalism and the ideas within anarchism stand for the dismantling of a power center, which tends to rhyme with some of the ideas of socialism.
2:17:16 - 2:25:08 (07:52)
Summary
The development of a powerful central state towards the end of feudalism and the ideas within anarchism stand for the dismantling of a power center, which tends to rhyme with some of the ideas of socialism.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The debate between neoclassical and Keynesian economics overshadows the complex developments within Marxism and socialism, unknown to the average American academic and intellectual.
2:25:08 - 2:29:34 (04:25)
Summary
The debate between neoclassical and Keynesian economics overshadows the complex developments within Marxism and socialism, unknown to the average American academic and intellectual.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
Bernie Sanders and AOC's advocacy of democratic socialism is comparable to what FDR promoted in the 1930s, but there will be individuals who will push for a more extreme socialist direction.
2:29:34 - 2:34:36 (05:01)
Summary
Bernie Sanders and AOC's advocacy of democratic socialism is comparable to what FDR promoted in the 1930s, but there will be individuals who will push for a more extreme socialist direction. Meanwhile, individuals in the socialist sphere do not agree with the amount of money sent to Ukraine by the United States.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
A discussion on the long transition from feudalism to capitalism in Europe, which took centuries with fits and starts, and how the merchant class started producing goods themselves rather than buying from others.
2:34:35 - 2:38:38 (04:02)
Summary
A discussion on the long transition from feudalism to capitalism in Europe, which took centuries with fits and starts, and how the merchant class started producing goods themselves rather than buying from others.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The term 'Cultural Marxism' has become prevalent in contemporary discussions, referring to Marxists who analyze how capitalism shapes culture and how culture in turn shapes capitalism.
2:38:38 - 2:47:22 (08:43)
Summary
The term 'Cultural Marxism' has become prevalent in contemporary discussions, referring to Marxists who analyze how capitalism shapes culture and how culture in turn shapes capitalism. This analysis is focused on understanding the relationship between culture and capitalism for the development and growth of capitalism.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
In this episode, a political refugee turned successful academic discusses the impact of their upbringing and offers advice for high school and college students on how to achieve a non-standard career like theirs.
2:47:22 - 2:57:01 (09:39)
Summary
In this episode, a political refugee turned successful academic discusses the impact of their upbringing and offers advice for high school and college students on how to achieve a non-standard career like theirs. They also share their gratitude for helping others understand what's going on in the world.
Episode#295 – Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism
PodcastLex Fridman Podcast
The struggles we face in building relationships and understanding complicated topics make life interesting and satisfying.
2:57:01 - 2:59:22 (02:20)
Summary
The struggles we face in building relationships and understanding complicated topics make life interesting and satisfying.