Capitalist social relations 3

Market & Inequality

• the law says everyone is equal, has rights, freedom, and property.

• Reality: rich people (like Lana) can buy anything they want; poor workers (like Tommy) struggle just to survive.

• Why it matters: Laws claim equality, but in practice, power and money make life unequal.

• Example: A speeding ticket costs the same for a billionaire and a teenager earning minimum wage, but it hurts the teen much more.

Law as a “Reasonable Person” & Juridic Subject

• The law judges people by a standard called the “reasonable person.”

• Problem: this standard is made for rich, powerful people, not for everyday workers.

• Ordinary people like Tommy are treated like “legal robots” — juridic subjects — just objects in the law, not humans with struggles.

• Example: Tommy sells lanterns at slightly higher prices during a festival. The law judges him strictly, but Lana can break rules and still win.

Money, Time, and Commodification

• Punishments are measured in time (like losing a month of freedom).

• Wealthy people can pay fines and escape punishment.

• Even natural resources (air, water) are treated like products to buy or sell.

• Idea: In capitalism, almost everything becomes a commodity — a thing with a price.

• Example: Work, freedom, and even clean air can be “bought” by the rich.

Feudalism vs. Capitalism

• In the old feudal system:

  • Rights were based on status (serf, knight, lord).

  • People didn’t have “formal equality” — laws matched reality.

• Capitalism:

  • Claims formal equality and rights for everyone, but in reality, rich people still have advantages.

• Example: Legal equality is like a fancy mask hiding unfairness.

Contracts & Private Property

• Contracts in capitalism:

  • Look fair, but rich people set the rules.

  • Workers get “freedom on paper” but must follow the rules exactly.

• Private property:

  • The state protects ownership, usually favoring those who already own things.

• Example: A worker can technically “own” their job, but the boss decides how much they work, what they earn, and the conditions — like a board game where the rich start with all the best pieces.

State Regulation

• Sometimes the government creates laws to protect workers (safety rules, labor laws).

• Problem: these rules often hurt workers more than the rich (higher taxes, stricter rules for small business owners).

• Example: Property taxes increase for people in lower/middle-income houses but barely affect big companies.

How Change Can Happen (Marxist Theory)

1. Crisis of capitalism: The system has built-in contradictions (like recessions, 2008 financial crash).

2. Socialism: Workers take control. Laws and property rules start to favor the majority, but remnants of old capitalism remain.

3. Communism: People share resources based on need and ability. True fairness exists, and the state’s coercive power is less necessary.

• Example: Imagine a game that’s rigged for rich players → it breaks → all players make fair rules → everyone shares toys based on who needs them and who can play best.