For those who have not read Daniel Bell’s [amazon_link id=”0465014992″ target=”_blank” ]The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism[/amazon_link], it is, as Mike Elliott points out in his comment on yesterday’s post, a brilliant analysis. Here is the essence of the argument:

“The characteristic style of an industrial society is based on the principles of economics and economizing: on efficiency, least cost, maximization, optimization, and functional rationality. Yet it is at this point that it comes into sharpest conflict with the cultural trends of the day, for the culture emphasizes anti-cognitive and anti-intellectual currents. … The one emphasizes functional rationality, technocratic decision-making and meritocratic rewards. The other, apocalyptic moods and anti-rational behavior. It is this disjunction which is the historic crisis of Western society. This cultural contradiction, in the long run, is the deepest challenge to the society.”

A contradiction played out every day, and engaging scientists as well as economists, as we saw in a field in Hertfordshire the other day. I don’t think it’s obvious which side will triumph.

[amazon_image id=”0465014992″ link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism[/amazon_image]