Debt and the economic crisis from the perspective of Walter Benjamin's "Capitalism as religion"
Keywords:
Benjamin, Religion, Capitalism, Debt, GuiltAbstract
This article undertakes an analysis of Walter Benjamin's brief essay entitled "Capitalism as Religion," penned around 1921. The analysis centers on Benjamin's interpretation of the secularization of Christianity and his critique of the intertwined concepts of guilt and debt. Furthermore, it posits that this text offers insights into understanding contemporary issues surrounding debt, economic, and environmental crises. To this end, the article commences with a thorough examination of the essay and its historical context. Subsequently, it delves into the central concept of Schuld, translated as both guilt and debt, which holds a prominent position in Benjamin's early oeuvre. Finally, Benjamin's critique of Nietzschean Übermensch and the proposed solutions by the Berlin philosopher to address the accumulation of guilt within capitalist religiosity are scrutinized.
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