Conclusion to part II
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 April 2010
Summary
Urged in 1934 by Bernard Shaw to re–read Marx's Capital and unearth for himself its scientific treasures, Keynes responded as follows:
My feelings about Das Kapital are the same as my feelings about the Koran. I know that it is historically important and I know that many people, not all of whom are idiots, find it a sort of Rock of Ages and containing inspiration. Yet when I look into it, it is to me inexplicable that it can have this effect. Its dreary, out–of–date, academic controversialising seems so extraordinarily unsuitable as material for the purpose. But then, as I have said, I feel just the same about the Koran. How could either of these books carry fire and sword round half the world? It beats me. Clearly there is some defect in my understanding.
Indeed, according to Keynes' own observation, in the fields of political and economic philosophy there are not many who are still open to genuine dialogue and persuasion ‘after they are twenty–five or thirty years of age’. That, we may note, was the age at which Plato's philosopher–kings would undergo the last stage of their strenuous training for power. But the comparison between religious and economic texts which ‘carry fire and sword round half the world’ merits further examination.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Beliefs in ActionEconomic Philosophy and Social Change, pp. 197 - 199Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991