Seven Ethics Against Capitalism: Towards a Planetary Commons

Capitalism has become so dominant that it is difficult to ever imagine a world in which its injustices and inequalities are not violently present. In this ambitious and compelling book, Oli Mould turns his diagnosis of capitalism’s perversions towards defining the new set of ethics we need to succeed in organizing a more just society.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, capitalism has been rocked to its foundations and ‘the commons’ as a means of providing for all people in our world has come crashing into the foreground. However, in order for the commons to be a viable alternative to the injustices of capitalism, it needs to be grown to a planetary scale. This is not an easy process, but if we can commit to act ethically in the world, then suddenly anything is possible. Blending theoretical thinking and real-life examples of commoning in action, Mould guides the reader through a suite of ethical mindsets - mutualism, transmaterialism, minoritarianism, decodification, slowness, failure and love - which can stand firm against capitalism’s seemingly inexorable ability to co-opt and subsume all before it. When thought of collectively, these ethics can offer tantalizing visions and practical approaches towards a world beyond capitalism.