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Capitalism and the Historians

thomas s. ashton a. hayek f. w.h. hutt l.m. hacker b. de jouvenel

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F. A. Hayek's Introduction lays the groundwork for this study of the rise of the factory system in Great Britain. It also examines why historians have been so critical of capitalism and the factory system. The subsequent essays discuss why intellectuals have usually been antagonistic to capitalism and what effect these historical misconceptions have had on the world's attitude toward business enterprise.

* Papers by distinguished British, American and European economic historians including T. S. Ashton, L. M. Hacker and Bertrand de Jouvenel
* Actual case studies of the English factory system and the English factory worker support the theoretical material.

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1954

This edition

Format
202 pages, Hardcover
Published
June 5, 2003 by Routledge
ISBN
9780415313285
ASIN
0415313287
Language
English

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About the author

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thomas s. ashton

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Thomas Southcliffe Ashton (1889–1968) was an English economic historian. He was professor of economic history at the London School of Economics at the University of London from 1944 until 1954, and Emeritus Professor until his death in 1968. His best known work is the 1948 textbook The Industrial Revolution (1760–1830), which put forth a positive view on the benefits of the era.

He donated money to provide the T. S. Ashton Prize, an annual award from the Economic History Society. The prize is currently £750 and is awarded at every other annual conference to the author of the best article accepted for publication in the Economic History Review in the previous two calendar years.

Following a BBC Freedom of Information request in January 2012, it was revealed that Ashton turned down a knighthood in 1957.

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Rating(4.2 / 5.0, 6 votes)
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6 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
No-Life-101
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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3.6/5

A valuable compilation of essays on the conditions of the working people during the Industrial Revolution and the historical/intelectual treatment received by that period.

Hayek correctly and expectedly cautions about the pretense of impartiality of modern scholars, TS Ashton provides interesting historical facts about the period, de Jouvenel ask if we shouldn't question and study the position of intelectuals in modern society instead.

WH Hutt's article is just brilliant.

All in all, a nice little book, which perhaps could be of some use to the activist youth of today.
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
reizamundi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Tema de bază este "De ce sunt intelectualii așa răi și critică paradisul capitalist?"

Ca să vedem de ce este capitalismul neapreciat de "elite" mergem la rădăcina lui si anume Revoluția Industrială din Anglia de la începutul secolului XIX.

Carte are argumente valide. De exemplu, viața muncitorilor din fabrici era mizeră în bună parte din cauza războiul cu Franța, politicilor proaste asupra taxelor dar și slaba calitate a materialelor de construcție care ducea la crearea locuințelor insalubre.

Este corect să privim și economic situație dar bucuria omului nu stă în PIB.
Revoluția Industrială a dus la "eliminarea" sclaviei este un alt arument.

DAR în același timp carte conține o puzderie de aberații doar dacă le auzi titlul.
Mai are rost să discutăm dacă munca copiilor in fabrici este benefica sau nu?! Hayek și prietenii săi dezbat și legiferează despre libertate în alte cărți , în schimb aici nu se mai întreabă cât de liber este un copil într-o fabrică.
Aberații:
a) Malformațile copiilor nu au nici o legătură cu muncă extenuantă 18 ore în fabrică ci totul este doar din cauza geneticii proaste a timpului.
b) Rapoartele doctorilor privind sănătatea copiilor care este în deteriorare sunt total greșit datorită incapacității lor din aceea vreme. Chimicale fac bine așa zice domnul HUTT.
c) Munca în fabrică ajută la antrenarea mai bine a copiilor, dacă nu muncest de tineri se lenevesc la adolescență.
Plus altele...

Cartea a apărut în 1954...
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YuurakuteiZakku
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Interesting essays demonstrating faulty views of the early factory system and the level of living standard among the new factory working class compared to other relevant labor classes (like in agriculture).
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Cheesegod
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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The capitalism of 19th century seems to be attacked by both progressives and reactionaries. A bit of healthy revisionism is genuinely needed. However, this particular collection of essays displays some kind of intellectual laziness of pro-capitalism historians. Despite a number of apt positive claims and valid criticisms of their opponents' misunderstanding of economic theory, Hayek's main thesis remains not so indisputable. I wonder, what are the up-to-date books by right-libertarian historians on this very topic.
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staradorned
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 26,2025
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Hayek edited this nice little read. Gives one a different perspective of capitalism. One you won't read in any classroom. Beautiful essays by Ashton, Hacker, Jouvenel, Hayek, and Hutt. If you have a sneaking suspicion that capitalism serves the wants of the customer, then well, you may be justified.
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