Capitalist Social Relations and the Environment: A Hyena—Baby Gazelle Acquaintance

Abstract

Despite playing a critical role in the survival of living beings, several empirical findings all around the world suggest that the planet Earth is now in a perilous state. Whilst acknowledging the influence of several superficial humanistic factors upon which the conventional discourses on the current environmental concerns have long been affixed, this analytical paper contends that such aspects are deficient in comprehending and remedying the problem. Contrarily, attempts to identify the underlying causes and cures of the environmental problem should recognise the modus vivendi of the prevailing capitalistic social relations, which serve as the basis for existing exploitative and environmentally damaging behaviours. It is against this standpoint that this paper uses both theoretical and empirical evidence informed by a metabolic rift theory to dismiss the prevalent illusory eco-capitalistic arguments that capitalism is not responsible for the current environmental problems in the world but only human activities. In order to address the current environmental problem, the paper proposes a systemic transformation wherein unorthodox forms of social interactions are oriented around satisfying the needs of both the environment and humans without jeopardising each other’s worth.