[lbo-talk] Demand (was How would democratic ownership and control move us towards serving human needs?)

[Tahir Wood]

'Human needs' is an interesting question when it is transposed into a purely political discourse. The question of who decides what a need is as opposed to a desire, a fantasy, a hobby, etc. 

In capitalism we see how demand is shaped by various semiotic means in the media, advertising and whatnot. So, what is an acceptable notion of demand then from a non-capitalist point of view? I think this is a really difficult question and one of those that marxists tend to duck or else dismiss (as with similar difficult questions, like productivity, population, etc.). 

Is there a natural structure underlying demand, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, or is it more like a purely ethical question that people will debate endlessly over and never resolve that is, (outside of some particular politico-economic settlement)? What do people think about this? How natural is capitalist demand? Can it be shaped differently? How?

Tahir

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