Political Economy

John Ruskin was a Victorian-era writer, art critic, and social thinker who wrote extensively on political economy. He was critical of the industrialization and capitalism that were taking hold in Britain during his time, and he believed that these developments were causing great harm to both the natural environment and human society. Ruskin believed that the capitalist system was inherently flawed because it focused solely on maximizing profits and disregarded the well-being of workers, the environment, and society as a whole. He argued that the pursuit of wealth at all costs led to the exploitation of labor, the destruction of natural resources, and the degradation of art and culture. In response to these problems, Ruskin advocated for a different economic system that was more in tune with the needs of people and the environment. He believed that the economy should be organized around the principles of social justice, sustainability, and community. Ruskin's ideas were influential in the development of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to promote traditional crafts and design in opposition to the mass-produced goods of industrial capitalism. His critique of the capitalist system also influenced later socialist and environmental movements.