When is capitalism due to collapse?

Question

Many scientists and engineers have forecast the collapse of capitalism as it relies on infinite resources and these resources are already vanishing. Is there one sign or factor that we should all look for to help us realise when it will collapse, (it will take western society with it no doubt) as corporations will not sesibly allow the time to be known (as they make huge losses if people wind down consumption).

sensibly, why didn't spell checker pick that one up LOL

Answer 1

You must mean finite, not infinite

Answer 2

Great question....STAR!! I see it belong here as well.

Capitalism will collapse not because of any other reasons, but due to its own imperfections.... the trigger in my view would be when the Mal-distribution of wealth would cross certain limits and the already wide gap between the haves and the have-not's would widen further to bring about a revolution. In theory, capitalism should result in equitable distribution of wealth... however, we have engineered so many pseudo power centres which make the free efficiency-based distribution skewed and artificial... this is the key imperfection which would make the system collapse world-wide.

From a philosophical point of view, there will be revolt against the injustice which is happening due to money gaining more importance than morals and ethics which causes illogical power centres to gain currency and undue influence.... in turn creating imperfections in the system.

In my view it should have happened by now, but obviously the third-world tolerance limits seem to be rather high!!

Answer 3

thats an impossible question to answer, capitalism has entered several crises's and overcome them even though they seemed rapturous at the time
but:

In about 50 years the process of global warming, which international capital has failed to deal with, will become critical and irreversible. In the period after this rising tides, increasing global intolerance will likely destroy the viable basis for capitalism at its current intensity. Therefore its possible that it will dissapear or collapse in some areas of the globe in that period so as a global system capitalism is likely to collapse as a global system in the next 100-150 years.. around as long as it has existed for already!

Resource crises are endemic of a society based on private monopolies wherein new technologies which could replace old ones are pigeonhold due to conservativeness of big money making monopolies. This is clear from the oil crisis wherein there are viable renewable replacements but they are pigeonholed through the buying of these technologies by big bussiness and other means. This inevidibly leads to crisis as big oil companies bring a captive society to ruin with them but for only so long; capitalism can recover from such crises as these companies are replace by other profitable ones. The only real way this can lead to collapse as such is the concious replacement by social movements replacing capitalism.
Really capitalism only collapses in the real sense when its social base disintegrates due to its endemic crises it leads to revolution or in the event that the basis for industrial society as a whole is destroyed by capitalism

Answer 4

Capitalism will collapse when everyone throughout the world gain their full human rights and fulfil their social obligations. then Capitalists will not be able to exploit one against another. In other words when everyone gets the same financial reward has the same standard of living and the same moral values. Don't hold your breath it wont happen any time soon.

Answer 5

resources will eventually be nil, right throughout the globe...the only way i can see capitalism remaining intact is if these smart scientists figure out a way, to transport a large amount of people and supplies to another planet and start useing its resources.ive been to these other planets and they r in abundant supply of resources.Let our resources grow and mature again so our money and society doesnt go down the fallopian tube, like a egg ready to be fertalised. cheers

Answer 6

Much as it is a flawed and immoral system, I cannot see it's complete collapse. People will always want. If it did collapse then there would be chaos so I hope these scientists and engineers are also working on an alternative.

Answer 7

Probably when all the resources start to decrease like fresh water, food and land when the weather starts to heat up in 50 years time!

Answer 8

Capitalism is based on private ownership of means of production and paid labor. Every individual capitalist 's main goal is to maximize his/her profit. In order to survive the war of profits in the chaotic market it is of prime importance for every capitalist to keep a definite rate of growth of profit. This rate is is defined by the market. If not he/she will be eaten by a bigger fish. And here lies one of the main contradictions of capitalism. The rate of the growth of profit is negative! ( The Capital ,volume 3, by Karl Marx ). Unless capitalists find cheaper force of labor, cheaper raw materials and cheaper sources of energy they are doomed to go under. That's why most of the worlds mightiest corporations has established themselves in China. That's why US an British armies ( and a dozen of minor puppets )have invaded Iraq. An extra alternative is to merge together and control market prices. But it does not help in the long run, because of the very nature of competition.
Capitalism may expand as long as the whole globe is not industrialized yet. But when it happens there will be no remedy for capitalism.
There will remain two alternatives for mankind. One is socialism the other one barbarism.

Answer 9

but will it collapse? will those same people not discover new forms for power and new ways of the making the many materials we desire.

Name one Socialist country where it has truly worked for an extend period? That is without an other capitalist influence.

Neither work in the real long term, a balanced combination is the key, but this goes in the face of opposing politicians believes.

Answer 10

June 14th...


Just kidding...

I believe that a change is inevitable and that when that critical time is upon us, it will be up to people to affect that change to a more sustainable future, otherwise, if we just move to another rapidly depleting resource, we would just be jumping from 1 sinking ship to another.

P.L.E. - K.C.

Answer 11

Because the second law of thermodynamics, its clear that everything in this earth really will collapse. But for us Christians we have an anchor that will never collapse and so no matter what happens in this "dis-ordered" earth we are temporarily inhabiting, we are assured by our Creator God that He will protect us and keep us safe in Jesus our Lord God and Savior.