“Does Human Nature Make Socialism Impossible?” with Adaner Usmani

“Good in theory, bad in practice.” Sure, the concept sounds nice, but people aren’t very nice, right? Isn’t capitalism much more suited to human nature—a nature dominated by competitiveness and venality?

Socialists don’t believe these truisms. They don’t view history as a mere chronicle of cruelty and selfishness. They also see countless acts of empathy, reciprocity, and love. People are complex: they do unspeakable things, but they also engage in remarkable acts of kindness and, even in difficult situations, show deep regard for others.

Adaner Usmani is a graduate student at New York University and on the board of “New Politics.”

Filmed at Verso Books in Brooklyn, March 14, 2017.

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This is the second in the “ABCs of Socialism” series, sponsored by Verso Books and Jacobin, featuring lectures and discussions with contributors of the “ABCs of Socialism” book.

View the other episodes in the “ABCs of Socialism” series:

“Why Do Socialists Talk So Much About Workers?” with Vivek Chibber
   • Why Do Socialists Talk So Much About ...  

“Is Socialism Just a Western, Eurocentric Concept?” with Nivedita Majumdar
   • “Is Socialism Just a Western, Eurocen...  

“No, Socialism Isn't Just More Government” with Chris Maisano
   • “No, Socialism Isn’t Just More Govern...  

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“The ABCs of Socialism” book:
https://www.versobooks.com/books/2219...

Verso Books:
https://www.versobooks.com/
  / versobks  
  / versobooks  

Jacobin:
https://www.jacobinmag.com/