CAPITALISM VS INNER SUFFERING
how capitalism turns inner suffering into economic See: " Capitalism vs Desire " and also " Can desire be liberated? " This goes right to the heart of some of the strongest critiques of modern capitalism. Thinkers like Michel Foucault , Mark Fisher , and Byung-Chul Han each show, in different ways, how capitalism no longer exploits only labor — it exploits subjectivity itself: our emotions , anxieties , desires , and wounds . Here’s how each helps explain how inner suffering becomes economic value : 1. Michel Foucault: Power works by shaping the self Foucault argued that modern power doesn’t just repress people; it produces certain kinds of people. Instead of simply forcing obedience, systems shape how we: think about ourselves, judge ourselves, discipline ourselves. In capitalism, this means people learn to treat themselves as projects: improve your body, optimize your time, maximize your productivity, fix your emotions. The self becomes something to manage. So ...