Embed Notice

Graeber argues that what we call “gift economies” or “market economies” are not totalizing conceptual universes. We’re talking about *dominant* economic institutions and, perhaps just as important, the prevailing way in which people in these societies conceive of themselves. Many capitalist ideologues conceive of themselves purely in terms of rational economic calculation even as they experience generosity (did their parents charge them for care when they were infants?) and relationship-building (do they ever exchange gifts with loved ones at the holidays?).

Material conditions are clearly important for determining our social relations. But how we think about ourselves—or rather, how we’ve been taught and indoctrinated to think about ourselves—is also vitally important as well. If we can directly experience multiple kinds of economic interaction but still somehow conclude that we will never “do something for nothing,” then there is clearly more at work than simple mechanical processes of base and superstructure.

6/