Desire and Interest: Political Debates Before Capitalism's Victory

Author: Albert O. Hirschman, written by (USA) Li Xinhua, translated by Zhu Jindong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: Nobel laureate in Economics Amartya Sen remarked, "Albert Hirschman is one of the great intellectuals of our time. His works have changed our understanding of economic development, social contexts, human behavior, and the nature and significance of certainty, loyalty, and commitment." "Desire and Interest not only makes significant intellectual contributions but is also one of Hirschman's masterpieces. Nobel laureate in Economics Amartya Sen noted that, 'Albert Hirschman is one of the great intellectuals of our time. His works have changed our understanding of economic development, social contexts, and human behavior.' 'Desire and Interest not only makes significant intellectual contributions but is also one of Hirschman's masterpieces. This work focuses on both contemporary and historical economic theories. It has a broad readership, not just in the fields of economics and economic history.'" In this book, Hirschman revisits the European intellectual trends of the 17th and 18th centuries, elucidating a complex conceptual shift during that period: for a long time, the pursuit of material interests was condemned as a greedy sin, but now it has been given a new role—used to control humanity's unruly and destructive desires. The author provides a fresh interpretation of the rise of capitalism, emphasizing the close connection between tradition and modernity. Hirschman's discovery is ironic: what we now consider the evil characteristics of capitalism were its original pursuit—suppressing desires to pursue 'harmless' though perhaps monotonous commercial interests.