Veblen’s Vested Interests
Within Veblen’s cosmological approach, drawing from biological, social, and material sciences, his broader context was the Western world, but his specific application focused on the American version. He called the American socioeconomic system the “Pecuniary Culture,” a system built on monetizing all aspects of the “scheme of life.” At the top of this system was […]
Our American Pecuniary Culture
More than a century ago, American economist Thorstein Veblen described our society as a “Pecuniary Culture.” A standard dictionary might define “pecuniary” as “relating to or consisting of money” or “a current medium of exchange.” These definitions suggest that money is largely functional, transactional, or economic. Yet, Veblen’s meaning reached further. He argued that our […]
Veblen’s Socioeconomic Cosmology
Cosmology, as commonly used, refers to the origin, structure, and science of the physical universe. It draws upon multiple foundational sciences, such as astronomy, physics, and astrophysics, to explain the big picture. Similarly, our human-made socioeconomic universe is a complex system of interconnected phenomena and disciplines. It is built upon underlying human biological and supra-biological […]