Abstract

Capitalism has a premonition of its end, but we cannot see what lies ahead. Redefining it as a spiritual and social phenomenon and renewing the concept of capitalism. A definitive essay that shows the principles for going beyond that.
Having written many books on the topic of capitalism in various specific contexts, in his ambitious work Beyond Capitalism, author Masachi Osawa, considered one of Japan's most outstanding thinkers, sets out to establish a more comprehensive theory of capitalism in its entirety. As suggested by the title, his aim in doing so is to obtain a glimpse at what might lie in a post-capitalist future, an important and urgent issue for the future of human society. In doing so, he draws on two centuries of leading intellectuals, from Hegel, Marx, Weber, Benjamin, and Keynes, to modern thinkers such as Kojin Karatani and Osawa’s mentor and author of Social Psychology of Modern Japan, the renowned Japanese sociologist Munesuke Mita.

Author’s Information

Masachi Osawa: Born in 1958 in Nagano Prefecture. Completed doctoral course at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Sociology. Doctor of Sociology. He is the director of the thought magazine ``THINKING 'O'' (Sakusha). In 2007, he received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award for ``The Origin of Nationalism'' (Kodansha), and in 2015, he received the Kawai Hayao Literary Award for ``The Prison of Freedom'' (Iwanami Gendai Bunko). His other books include ``The Age of Impossibility'', ``Toward an Awakening Deeper than a Dream'' (Iwanami Shinsho), ``Conditions of Freedom'' (Kodansha Bungei Bunko), and ``Toward Communism in the New Century'' (NHK Publishing Shinsho). ), ``Mysteries of Japanese History'' (Asahi Shinsho), ``Sociological History'' (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), ``Philosophy of World History'' series (Kodansha), ``Enlarged End of the Era of Fiction'' (Chikuma Gakugei Bunko) and many more. His co-authored works include ``Mysterious Christianity,'' ``Surprising China'' (Kodansha Gendai Shinsho), and ``The Mystery of Capitalism'' (NHK Publishing Shinsho).