Lecture
Mehdi Tadayoni: Why Must Capitalism Be Understood Anew?
In this talk, on the occasion of the publication of the book Capitalism and the Historians, Mehdi Tadayoni examines historical narratives about capitalism and the Industrial Revolution. He explains how ideas and historical narratives can shape our view of economic systems.
About this video
In this talk, on the occasion of the publication of the book Capitalism and the Historians, Mehdi Tadayoni examines an important issue in the history of economic thought: how our image of capitalism is constructed and why certain historical narratives about it have become common beliefs.
He emphasizes the role of ideas in the fate of societies and explains that ideologies and common perceptions of economic systems can alter the course of political and social decision-making. From his perspective, many common criticisms of capitalism are not based solely on economic data but have been shaped under the influence of moral and historical narratives.
A significant part of this talk is dedicated to revisiting narratives related to the Industrial Revolution, including the issue of child labor and the living conditions of workers. Tadayoni attempts to show that historical examination requires a precise comparison with the real alternatives available at the time, and that the past should not be judged solely by today's standards.
He goes on to introduce the book Capitalism and the Historians, a collection of essays edited by Friedrich August von Hayek that examines the historical and intellectual roots of negative attitudes toward capitalism. At the end of the discussion, he also announces the publication of a translation of Socialism by Ludwig von Mises, a work of particular importance in the history of liberal thought.
This talk will be engaging for those interested in economic history, political thought, liberalism, and a critical examination of common narratives about capitalism.
